tibvavy of Che theological gtminavy 

PRINCETON • NEW JERSEY 



PRESENTED BY 

The Estate of 
Harold McAfee Robinson, D.D 

BV 255 .G6 1916 
God's minute 




fifrW4Z*^\) 



(£& — - 






GOD'S MINU 




A Book of 

365 Daily Prayers Sixty 

Seconds Long for Home 

Worship 



By 

365 Eminent Clergymen 
and Laymen 



THE VIR PUBLISHING COMPANY 

200-214 North 15th Street 

Philadelphia, Pa. 



Copyright 1916. by L. M. Cross 
All rights reserved 

(Printed in the United States) 



In All Thy Ways Acknowledge Him y and 
He Shall Direct Thy Paths. 

Prov. 3 : 6. 



A CALL TO PRAYER 



Let us put by some hour of every day 
For holy things! — whether It he when dawn 
Peers through the window-pane, or when the noon 
Flames, llie a burnished topaz, In the vault, 
Or when the thrush pours In the ear of eve 
Its plaintive monody; some little hour 
Wherein to hold rapt converse with the soul, 
From sordldness and self a sanctuary, 
Swept by the winnowing of unseen wings, 
And touched by the White Light Ineffable l 



/&&frr^/^i&aA4. 



LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS 



PAGE 

Abernethy, Rev. Wm. S. 96 
Adams, Rev. Fred W. . .294 

Ainslie, Rev. Peter 376 

Albertson, Rev. Chas. C. 28 
Allen, Rev. Ernest B . . . 112 
Allen, Rev. H. Edgar. . .164 
Anderson, Sir Robert... 60 
Anderson, Rev. W. B . . . 79 
Anderson. Rev. Wm. M..354 
Armstrong, Rev. J. C . . . 89 
Atkins, Rev. G. Glenn.. 188 
Atterbury, Rev. Anson P. 267 

Ballard, Rev. Frank 212 

Balsbaugh, Rev. P. H . . . 49 
Barnes, Rev. Charles R. 24 
Barton Rev. William E.148 
Bauslin, Rev. David H. .189 

Beattys, Rev. H. H 73 

Benbam, Rev. DeWitt M. 53 

Best, Mr. Nolan R 63 

Biederwolf, Rev. W. E..132 
Bingbam, Rev. H. H...334 

Bitting, Rev. W. C 74 

Black, Rev. Hugh 315 

Bomberger, Rev. J. H . . 378 

Bonsall, Rev. A. J 103 

Bonsall, Jr., Rev. E. H. 84 
Booth, Mrs. Maud B. . .. 23 
Boswell, Rev. Ira M . . . . 238 

Bowles, Rev. I. G 97 

Boyd, Rev. James H...174 
Boyle, Rev. W. H. W. . .159 



PAGE 

Bradley, Rev. Dan F...140 
Brandt, Rev. John L...283 
Bratton, Bishop T. D. . .215 
Brewster, Bishop C. B . . 100 
Brokaw, Rev. Ralph W.229 
Bronson, Rev. Dillon... 179 

Brooks, Rev. R. C 208 

Brooks, Rt. Rev. F. K. .272 
Brown, Dean Chas. R..160 
Brown, Rev. Hugh E.. 27-83 
Brown, Rev. Llewellyn. 217 
Brown, Rev. W. T. G. . .308 
Buchanan, Rev. W. D . . 351 

Bucks, Rev. W. H 32 

Burns, Rev. G. Bickley.383 
Burns, Rev. G. Frank.. 241 
Burrell, Rev. David J . . 21 
Burton, Rt. Rev. U W. .147 
Bushnell, Rev. John E. .199 

Bustard, Rev. W. W 242 

Butterwick, Rev. R. R..168 
Cameron, Rev. P. C....329 
Cameron, Rev. W. A... 261 
Campbell, Rev. Robert. .221 
Cannon, Rev. John F. . .117 

Cecil, Rev. Russell 153 

Clifford, Rev. John 40 

Cline, Rev. W. H 274 

Clothier. Mr. Clarkson. .213 

Cobb, Rev. Henry E 59 

Coleman, Mr. George W.197 
Conley, Rev. J. W 266 



PAGE 

Conrad, Rev. A. Z 167 

Conwell, Rev. Russell H. 15 

Coover, Prof. M 129 

Covert, Rev. Wm. C 288 

Cowles, Rev. David O . . 314 

Crandall, Rev. L. A 316 

Creitz, Rev. C E 237 

Crews, Rev. H. W 45 

Crouser, Rev. Wm. E. . .135 
Crumpton, Rev. W. B..157 
Darlington, Bishop J. H.223 
Davis, Rev. Edwin L. . .262 

Davis, Rev. M. M 244 

Davis, Rev. Ozora S . . . . 54 

Dawson, Rev. J. M 345 

Day, Rev. Albert E 246 

Day, Rev. Wm. Horace. 64 
Delk, Rev. Edwin Heyl.149 
Dewey, Rev. Harry P. . 99 
Diffenderfer, Rev. G. M. 66 
Dobbins, Rev. Frank S.263 

Dobbs, Rev.Hoyt M 332 

Doerffler, Rev. Alfred. . . 94 
Dorchester, Rev. Daniel. 166 
Dornblaser, Rev. T. F..19i5 

DuBose. Rev. H. M 342 

Duff, Rev. J. A 20 

Dunbar, Rev. W. H 46 

Eaton, Rev. Charles A... 80 
Ellis, Rev. William T. .339 
Elmore, Rev. Robert E. 39 
Ely, Rev. George Wells. 105 
Ely, Rev. James B 364 



PAGE 

Erb, Rev. Frank Otis. . .214 

Faris, Rev. John T 203 

Farmer, Prof. J. H 211 

Farquharson, Rev. Wm.343 
Faulks, Rev. James B . . 265 
Ferris, Rev. Lincoln A. .289 
Fiske, Rev. George McC. 55 
Flanders, Rev. Chas. R.305 

Fort, Rev. Allen 264 

Fosdick, Mr. Lucian J.. 286 
Foulkes. Rev. Wm. H..330 

Fout, Bishop H. H 357 

Fox, Mr. J. Frank 287 

Francis, Rev. J. M 202 

Francis, Bishop Jos. M..171 

Fraser, James A 206 

Freeman, Rev. James E. 77 
French, Rev. J. Stewart. 131 
Frick, Rev. Philip L...126 

Friend, Mr. John W 331 

Fry, Rev. G. Arthur... 142 
Gailor, Bishop Thos. F.. 93 
Gallup, Rev. Clarence M.121 

Gifford, Rev. 0. P 144 

Gilkey, Rev. Charles W.115 
Girdlestone, Rev. R. B..362 

Gladden, Rev. W 18 

Goodwin, Rev. James . . . 368 
Goss, Rev. Charles F. . . 98 

Graham, Edwin R 227 

Granville, Rev. Wm. A. 22 
Gray, Rev. James M . . . . 106 
Gray, Bishop Wm. C...182 



Green, Dr. Francis H. 
Green, Rev. Justin N . . 
Grenfell, Dr. Wilfred T 

Gribbel, Mr. John 

Gross, Rev. W. M 

Hall, Bishop A. C. A. . 
Hammond, Rev. L. C . . 

Harter, Henry W 

Heckert, Prof. Chas. G 
Henderson, Bishop T. S 
Henson, Rev. L. L . . . . 
Herman, Rev. S. W . . . 
Herring, Rev. Hubert C 

Hill, Rev. J. J 

Hoover, Mr. S. Earle. . 
Howard, Mr. Philip E. 
Howden, Rt. Rev. F. B 
Huber, Rev. Conrad . . . 
Huget, Rev. J. Percival 
Hughson, Rev. L. S . . . 
Humphries, Rev. R. F. 
Hunt, Rev. Emory W. . 

Hunt, Rev. M. P 

Huntington, Rev. J. O. S 
Hurlbut, Rev. Jesse L. 
Huston, Rev. Thos. M. 
Hutchinson, Rev. F. . . 
Hyde, Rev. Wm. DeW. 

Innes, Mr. George 

Isenberg, Rev. J. M. S. 
Jacobs, Rev. Wm. P. . 
Janes, Rev. Joseph .... 
Jefferis, Mr. J. H 



PAGE 

.285 
. 25 
.107 
.161 
. 52 
. 42 
.353 
.162 
.172 
.355 
.273 
.371 
.170 
.271 
.326 
.260 
.194 
.210 
.193 
.298 
.296 
.225 
.127 
.268 
.122 
.156 
.104 
.222 
.120 
. 48 
.176 
.327 
.370 



PAGE 

Jester, Mr. George T. . .372 
Johnson, Mr. Alba B. . .344 
Johnston, Bishop J. S..155 
Johnston, Rev. J. R. . . .186 

Johnston, Rev. J. W 116 

Kapp, Rev. Jacob W 245 

Keen, Dr. W. W 78 

Keeney, Rev. F. T. . .16-384 
Keevil, Rev. Joseph .... 349 
Kemp, Rev. Joseph W. . 61 

Kemper, Rev. C. W 324 

Kerr, Rev. Hugh T 231 

Kilpatrick, Rev. T. B. . .282 
King, Rev. Henry C . . . . 381 
King, Rev. Wm. Robert. 281 
King, Rev. Wm. Wirt.. 198 
Knight, Rev. Wm. A... 377 
Kramer, Rev. H. A. . . .248 
Kyle, Rev. Melvin G . . . 95 
Laing, Rev. Douglas. . .184 

Lamar, Rev. A. J 270 

Lamson, Rev. Guy C...247 

Landrith, Rev. Ira 328 

Langdale, Rev. John W.360 
Law, Rev. Thomas H . . . 336 

Leavitt, Mr. Roger 124 

Lee, Rev. James W. . . .341 
Leonard, Rev. A. B . . . . 145 
Leonard, Bishop Wm. A. 141 
Lingle, Rev. Walter L..320 

Long, Rev. S. P 165 

Longley, Rt. Rev.. H S.118 
Luccock, Rev. Geo. N..319 



10 



PAGE 

Lyell, Rev. John Wm, .251 
MacArthur, Rev. R. S . . 348 
Macartney, Rev. C. E . . 382 
MacColl, Rev. Alex 295 



MacLean, Rev. M. C 
MacLeod, Rev. M. J. 
MacMullen, Rev. W. . 
Markward, Rev. J. B 
Marshall, Rev. S. E. 
Martin, Prof. Wm. J 
Matthews, Rev. G. M 



196 
. 36 

363 
57 

259 
82 

232 



Mathews, Rev. Shailer. .113 

Maurer, Rev. O. E 218 

Mayo, Mr. A. M 359 

McCash, Rev. I. N 350 

McClure, Rev. A. D 323 

McConnell, Rev. F. C ... 190 
McCorkindale, Rev. T. B.276 
McCormick, Rev. C. W.205 
McCulloch, Rev. W. E . . 143 
McCutcheon, Rev. M. P. 290 
McDaniel, Rev. Geo. W.151 
McDowell, Rev. S. J . . . 114 
McGill, Rev. David F. . . 86 
McGurk, Rev. Daniel... 239 
McKinney, Rev. David . . 356 
McMillan, Rev. W. J... 358 
McMillin, Rev. Fredk. N.255 
McPheeters, Rev. W. M.139 
Megginson, Rev. Wm. . .275 
Merrill, Rev. Wm. P...335 
Meyer. Rev. Fredk. B.. 43 
Milholland, Mr. John E.380 



PAGE 

Miller, Rev. C. Armand.352 

Miller, Rev. R. J 58 

Miller, Rev. Rufus W. . . 68 
Milliken, Rev. Robert.. 300 
Mills. Rev. Charles S. . .200 
Mitchell, Mr. Clarence B.279 
Morgan, Rev. George E. 50 
Morris, Rev. Robt. H . . 2/52 
Morris, Rev. Samuel L.192 
Morse, Rev. A. H. C . . . 130 

Morton, D. Walter 69 

Mudge, Rev. Lewis S . . . 303 

Mueller, Rev. F. W 311 

Mullins, Rev. Edgar Y. . 30 
Mullowney, Rev. H. S..180 

Munro, Hugh R 240 

Myers, Rev. Cortland. . . 72 
Myers, Rev. Johnston. .321 
Neighbour, Rev. R. E . . . 373 
Nelson, Bishop C. K...277 
Newman, Rev. John G. . 91 
Norcross, Rev. James E.137 

Obenauf, Rev. H. F 243 

Orr, Rev. John Alvin. . .293 
Padelford, Rev. F. W. . .375 
Paden, Mr. George M. . .150 
Park, Rev. J. Edgar. 133-382 
Parker, Rev. Frank N..152 
Peck, Rev. Geo. Clarke. 191 
Pentecost, Rev. Geo. F.306 
Phelps, Rev. Arthur S..340 
Pidgeon, Rev. Geo. C . . . 302 
Pinchbeck, Rev. C. H. . .310 



11 



PAGE 

Piper, Rev. A. E 322 

Pohlman, Rev. August.. 216 
Poling, Rev. Daniel A. .154 
Pollard, Rev. Edward B.163 

Powell, Rev. Lewis 185 

Powell, Rev. W. D 297 

Quayle, Bishop Wm. A. . 29 
Radcliffe, Rev. Wallace. 125 

Randall, Rev. J. H 109 

Rauschenbusch, Rev. W. 90 
Raymond. Rev. A. V. V.lll 

Read, Rev. J. L. 337 

Reed, Mr. D. T 67 

Reed, Rev. R. C 312 

Reeves, Mr. Francis B. .317 

Reisner, Rev. C. F 110 

Remensnyder, Rev. J. B.108 

Rhodes, Rev. M 119 

Rice, Mrs. Alice Hegan. 70 
Richards, Rev. Chas. G. 41 
Riker, Rev. S. Clark... 230 

Robbins, Rev. H. C 313 

Robinson, Rev. Chas. H. 47 
Robinson, Rev. F. A. . . .128 
Robinson, Rev. W. C. . .169 
Rodgers, Rev. W. O . . . . 347 

Rose, Rev. S. P 366 

Ross, Rev. John J 228 

Rowland, Rev. A. J. . . .178 
Russell, Rev. Daniel... 234 
Rust, Rev. Charles H . . . 51 
Scanlon, Prof. Charles.. 123 
ScollaTd, Clinton 5 



PAGE 

Scott, Mr. William H. . .304 
Scroggie, Rev. W. G...138 

Seager, Rev. L. H 44 

Selecman, Rev. Chas. C. 62 

Shaw, Rev. John B 207 

Sheldrick, Rev. A 71 

Shields. Rev. Thomas T.258 

Smiley, Rev. W. B 136 

Smith, Rev. Chas. Geo. .369 
Smith, Rev. Frank G . . . 92 
Smith. Rev. Gypsy, Jr.. 269 
Snyder, Rev. Peter W. .220 
Somerville, Rev. J. W. . 31 
Spreng, Bishop Saml. P. 236 
Springer, Rev. John W.173 

Staebler, Rev. Chr ,56 

Stair, Rev. George R. . .278 
Steele, Rev. David M. . .187 

Stewart, Rev. J. W 325 

Stites, Mr. John 301 

Stiverson, Rev. J. W. . .257 
Stockdale, Rev. F. B...318 
Stoever, Mr. William C.224 

Stone, Rev. H. C 201 

Stone, Rev. John T 19 

Stubblefield, Rev. C 204 

Stubbs, Mr. William B. . 88 

Sweeney, Rev. Z. T 249 

Sweets, Rev. Henry H. .233 
Talbot, Rev. Ethelbert. .209 

Tailing, Rev. M. P 146 

Thirtle, Rev. James W. 38 
Thomas, Rev. W. H. G. 87 



12 



PAGE 

Thompson, Rev. Ernest. 333 
Thompson, Rev. R. W., 

35-381-374 
Todd, Rev. Luther E...338 
Tomkins. Rev. Floyd W. 65 
Tompkins, Rev. S. R...379 
Trotter, Prof. Thomas.. 291 

Tuttle, Rev. A. S 81 

Tuttle, Bishop Daniel S.365 
Van Buren, Rt. Rev. J. H.253 
Vance, Rev. James I . . . 26 
Van Dusen, Rev. W. W.280 
Van Lear, Rev. John. . .235 
Vincent, Bishop Boyd. . .134 
Vinson, Rev. Robert E. .309 

Violett, Rev. E. E 254 

Wallace, Rev. 0. C. S. .2)56 

Waltz, Rev. S. S 34 

Warfield, Rev. Benj. B. 75 

Warren, Mr. E. K 181 

Waters, Rev. N. McGee. 76 



PAGE 

Webb, Rev. J. R 307 

Webster, Rev. R. B . . . . 361 
Weekley, Bishop W. M. . 37 
Welch, Rev. Herbert. . .158 
Wheeler, Rev. Henry . . . 292 
White, Rev. George W. .346 
White, Rev. Herbert J. .226 
Whitley, Rev. Jesse T.. .175 
Wiles, Rev. Charles P . . 85 
Willcox, Mrs. Louise C.383 
Winchester, Bishop J. R.177 
Wishart, Rev. Chas. F. . 17 

Wishart, Rev. W. 1 102 

Wolf, Rev. L. B 183 

Wood, Rev. Charles. . . .250 
Woodcock, Bishop C. E. 33 
Woolston, Rev. C. H...367 

Wright, Rev. H. W 219 

Yarger, Rev. H. L 284 

Zimmerman, Rev. L. M.101 



A WORD FROM THE PUBLISHERS 

HPHIS little volume is sent forward with the prayer 
that it may assist many Christian people whose 
early religious training, education and experience 
have not been such as to enable them to give reverent 
expression to their spiritual needs, and this book 
is aimed to aid all such to formulate their thoughts, 
and train them along devotional lines. The arrange- 
ment of the prayers in calendar form should prove 
a constant reminder to them of their privilege to 
talk to their Heavenly Father at the beginning of 
every day. 

No printed prayer can always present the indi- 
vidual soul wants, but some of the most effective 
prayers are the printed ones. Those by the Psalmist 
have been appropriated by many who found in them 
the spiritual expression of their soul's inmost needs. 

Some may claim that they hjave no time for such wor- 
ship. It requires only 25 seconds to repeat the model 
prayer that our Lord taught His disciples. The name 
given to this volume, "God's Minute," conveys the 
idea that these prayers of about two hundred words 
in length will require about a minute to give each 
reverent expression. 

Every contributor, representative of both the 
religious and the intellectual forces in the English- 



14 



speaking world in the pulpit and in the peAv, did his 
work willingly and gratuitously, so that the volume 
could be sold at a price within the reach even of 
people with humble means. 

May God bless every reverent user of this little 
volume, and the many good people who have so 
generously aided us in making its publication possible. 



JANUARY FIRST 15 



Open to me the gates of righteousness : I will go in to 
them, and I will praise the Lord. — Psalm 118 : 19. 



OUR Heavenly Father, we pause at the opening 
of this day to place ourselves in harmony 
with Thy great plans. We know that it is unwise 
and sinful to oppose or attempt to hinder Thy 
purposes. Hear our humble appeal for Divine wis- 
dom, for spiritual sensitiveness to Thy messages, 
for broader views of our duty, and for the peace 
of God which fills the soul when working in full 
harmony with Thee. Let each of these blessings 
be given to all whom we love. Incline them to 
stop and pray — to watch and act, under the im- 
pulses which come from Heaven. Make known Thy 
love and law to all people in all lands, and hasten 
the era when all mankind shall accept the teach- 
ings of Thy Son, and of the Holy Prophets, and 
thus in sincere agreement live in peace with all, 
and in full obedience and devotion to Thy Holy 
Will. We ask these great blessings in the Name of 
our Lord Jesus, Thy Son, and our Redeemer. Amen. 



Russell H. Conwell, D.D., 
Philadelphia, Pa. 



16 JANUARY SECOND 



His love is perfected in us. — 'I John 4 : 12. 

HEAVENLY Father, write Thy new, best name 
of Love upon our hearts this morning. Help us 
to remember Jesus Christ. During the busy hours 
bring Him often to our thought. When the mind 
is free from some set task may it revert to Him, 
as the needle turns to the pole. Keep us from 
wounding Him in thought or word. Make our com- 
munion with Him sweet. Give us of His strength, 
of His wisdom, of His winsomeness. Forgive the 
professions which have been but empty words. For- 
give the sins which have brought a reproach upon 
Thy church. Forgive us if we have made it difficult 
to distinguish between the church and the world. 

Save us from the sin of despair. Light the lamp 
of hope in every heart. Fill us with the spirit of 
expectancy. Teach us that ruined lives may be 
rebuilt, and that in Christ is sufficiency for all our 
needs. We are thankful that Christ is the way to 
our Father's house, that there is forgiveness for 
all, the bread of life for all, and a welcome. Cleanse 
us from the defilement of the way; blot out the 
memories of the far country; clothe us with the 
garment of righteousness, and give us the joy of 
knowing that Thou dost own ua as Thy sons and 
daughters. Amen. 



Frederick T. Keeney, DJ) 7 

Syracuse, N. T. 



JANUARY THIRD 17 



Make His praise glorious. — Ps. 66 : 2. 

OGOD, our gracious Father, we look to Thee 
now for Thy benediction. We are Thy sup- 
pliant children, who subsist under the cover of Thy 
patience. We praise Thee for all Thine extraord- 
inary mercies. Thou hast made us like Thyself in 
the desire and in the capacity for fellowship. May 
fellowship with Thee be the basis and supreme bless- 
ing of our fellowship with each other. May flowers 
of devotion breathe their fragrance every day upon 
the family altar. Teach us how to be abased and 
how to abound. Keep our feet from unbidden paths, 
and our eyes from tears; or if the tears must come, 
let the Comforter come as well, that He may wipe 
them all away. Temper to us the long night watches 
of pain and sorrow. If weeping endure for a night, 
bring joy in the morning; and when the long after- 
noon shadows deepen toward the eventide of this 
earth's life, bring us very gently to the turn of the 
road from whence we may catch the vision of the 
home eternal. May this our present habitation be 
a promise and a foretaste of the house which has 
foundation whose builder and maker is God. Help 
us in our social joys and pleasures to remember 
Thee. Grant us all to face all life's tasks bravely, 
and perform them earnestly. And bring us in the 
end with joyful hearts and glad faces to abide 
with Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Chables F. Wishabt, D. D., 
Chicago, Illinois. 



18 JANUARY FOURTH 



Keep yourselves in the love of God. — Jude 21. 

OTHOU Eternal Love, Whom Jesus has taught 
us to call our Father, and in Whom we are 
learning to trust as our Brother, our Comrade, our 
Closest Friend, we are not seeking Thee, for we 
know that Thou art nearer to us every moment than 
we are to ourselves; we are only wishing and hop- 
ing that often, through this day, the thought of 
Thy nearness to us, of Thy presence with us, may 
spring into our consciousness, that we may see 
what Thou art showing us, and know what Thou art 
telling us, and be ready to take what Thou art 
giving us, and to do what Thou art bidding us. 
Help us to feel more than once today that the 
good thoughts and the good wishes which we find 
in our hearts are signs of Thy presence there; and 
may we learn to look for Thee thus, within our 
own lives, and to rejoice when we find Thee there, 
and so to become aware, more and more, of what 
we mean when we speak of the fellowship and com- 
munion of the Holy Spirit! We know that Thou 
art working in us to will and to do of Thy good 
pleasure; and we know that Thou findesi? Thy 
good pleasure in lives made fruitful and beautiful 
in Thy service. So help us to work with Thee, this 
day and every day, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 
Amen. 



Washington Gladden, D. D., LL.D. 
Columbus, Ohio. 



JANUARY FIFTH 19 



O Lord, my God, I will give thanks unto Thee forever. 
— Ps. 30 : 12. 

OUR eternal Father, we thank Thee that Thou 
hast brought us into the close and loving 
relationship of children, by the death of Jesus Christ, 
Thy Son, our Saviour, through Whom we are adopted 
into Thy divine family and become Thy children. 

We thank Thee that Thou Who wast the Creator 
of all men hast brought into Thine own family those 
who accept the love and sacrifice of Thy dear Son. 
We thank Thee that Thou dost share with us not 
only our sorrows, but our joys; that Thou art de- 
lighted when life delights us, and when virtue and 
faithfulness lead us to higher levels of thought and 
purpose. 

W T e thank Thee for Thy Holy Word, and pray that 
our faithfulness in studying it may result in spiritual 
growth and development. May we "hunger and thirst 
after righteousness" and after the food of Thy Word. 
May we never dare to enter upon the duties of a 
single day without the nourishment and support of 
the Word of God! 

Bless, we pray Thee, all who are dear to us, and 
give to us all an interpretation of friendship which 
centers in our divine Friend and Saviour, Jesus 
Christ. We ask it in His holy Name. Amen. 



John Timothy Stone, D. D., 
Chicago, Illinois. 



20 JANUARY SIXTH 



I thank Thee and praise Thee, O God. — Dan. 2 : 23. 

OUR Father in Heaven, we approach Thee in 
the name of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our 
Saviour, that we may render praise and thanks- 
giving to Thee; and that we may seek the for- 
giveness of our sins, the continued manifestation 
of Thy favor, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit 
in the choices of our lives, and in the rendering of 
service to Thee. We realize, our Father, the short- 
ness of our vision, the imperfection of our judgment, 
and the weakness of our effort, but Thou hast said, 
"Commit Thy way unto Jehovah, trust also in Him, 
and He will bring it to pass." It is sweet to rest 
upon this promise, and to feel that thus we can 
walk hand in hand with Thee, and that our ways 
shall be Thy way. 

In order that we may be true to our high calling, 
give us the sympathetic heart, the kindly look, the 
golden speech, the helping hand. Make us a chan- 
nel of blessing to those about us, that we may be 
the true children of Abraham, who was blessed that 
he might bless. And now, dear Lord, give us the 
strength for that which is immediately before us 
according to the promise, "As thy day is, so shalt 
thy strength be," and Thy name shall have the 
glory, through Christ, our Lord. Amen. 



J. A. Duff, D. D., 

Aspinwall, Penna. 



JANUARY SEVENTH 21 



Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed 
upon us. — I John 3 : 1. 

IN Thee, God, we live, and move and have our 
being. If Thou wert to withdraw Thy hand 
for a moment we should sink into nothingness, as 
when a drop of dew exhales into the air. 

We thank Thee for all that makes life worth 
living; for home and kinship and loving friends, for 
happiness, the hope and the opportunity of doing 
good. We thank Thee for life and immortality 
brought to light in the Gospel, and for a strong 
staff to lean on as we journey toward the immortal 
life. 

Pardon our sins, for Jesus* sake, that we may 
not be dragging a hopeless chain after us. Sanctify 
us by Thy Spirit, that we may run in the way 
of Thy commandments; and enlarge our hearts that 
we may constantly be doing good as we have op- 
portunity unto all men. Look graciously on the 
sick and suffering; and incline the hearts of those 
who know Thee not to come running unto Thee. 

Hear and answer, Father of all mercies; not for 
any worth or worthiness in us, but because we ask 
in the all-prevailing name of Christ, our Saviour and 
Thy beloved Son. Amen. 



David J. A. L. Bxjreell, D. D., 
New York City. 



22 JANUARY EIGHTH 



I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength. — Ps. 18 : 1 

LORD God Almighty, creator and preserver of 
all things, we humbly bow down before Thee 
in worship and supplication. We come without a 
single plea of merit, except that we have been 
redeemed through the suffering, death, and resur- 
rection, of Thine only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. 
We thank Thee for the blessings that Thou hast 
bestowed on us so generously in the past, and we 
ask wisdom and guidance from Thee in order that 
each one of us may become a blessing to all with 
whom we come in contact. We pray for the for- 
giveness of our sins. We ask Thee to walk with us 
today; be Thou our friend, our counsellor, our 
guide, our brother, the sure staff on which we may 
lean. May love for Thee and for our fellowmen 
always fill our hearts, and shine out of our lives 
so that all men may see that we have been walking 
with God. 

Thou hast never promised to supply all our wants 
— many of them are not for our good, but Thou 
hast promised to fill all needs, and we ask Thee for 
the gift of contentedness, of being satisfied with what 
Thou doth send. These, and all other things which 
will satisfy our souls and increase our capacity for 
service in the Kingdom, we ask for Jesus' sake. 
Amen. 



Wiltjam Anthony Granville, LL.D., 
Gettysburg, Penna. 



JANUARY NINTH 23 



Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name. 
— Ps. 105 : 1. 



DEAR Heavenly Father, as we gather at Thy 
feet today as a family, we ask Thy blessing on 
our home and Thy guidance to each one during the 
hours of this day. Help us to realize Thy nearness to 
us at this hour. May we realize Thy reality, and be 
conscious of the fact that Thou art not a God afar 
off — the Great King of Heaven, the Mighty Judge 
of all the earth enthroned in infinite space above 
us, but that we can claim Thee as our Saviour and 
our Friend. 

Help us throughout this day to realize that Thou 
canst be nearer to each one of us than the nearest 
and dearest of friends. 

Let us hear Thy voice today. Let us feel the 
inspiration of Thy presence, and with willing feet 
enable us to walk in the path on which Thy light 
and blessing can fall. 

Give us this day some work to do for others, 
some kindly word to speak, some helpful unselfish 
deed to fulfil in Thy Name. Be with us each and 
every hour of this day, and may we so live that 
Thy will may be done and Thy Kingdom come within 
our hearts. Amen. 



Mrs. Maui> Ballington Booth, 
New York City, N. Y. 



24 JANUARY TENTH 



"I will bless the Lord at all times." — Ps. 34 : 1. 

OLORD and Father of us all, we come with 
glad hearts to this hour of prayer. When 
we recall the infinity and eternity of Thy power and 
wisdom and goodness, we bow in reverence to Thee. 
Love invites imitation, and we choose Thee as our 
example. May Thy Spirit change us into likeness to 
Thyself. Love craves the privilege of service, and 
loving Thee we ask, "Lord, what wilt Thou have us 
to do?" Help us as parents to wisely order our 
household. May we train our children for useful 
lives here, and to be fitted for their true home beyond 
this life. As a family we are very near each other. 
Help us so to live that proximity may not evoke 
confusion and strife. May we be "kindly affectioned 
one to another." Grant us, Lord, that winning 
gentleness which is the sweet offspring of truthfulness 
and love. 

We pray, our Father, for all who are in trouble; 
for the sick, the poor, the afflicted, for any good cause. 
Bless the lonely — those who suffer, weep, and struggle 
alone. Grant that they may find companionship and 
comfort in Thee. Since every good gift and every 
perfect gift is from above, we thank Thee sincerely 
and heartily for the good things we enjoy. May this 
prayer, O Lord! find acceptance with Thee, through 
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. 



Charles Kandall Barnes, D. D., 
Hoboken, New Jersey. 



JANUARY ELEVENTH 25 



Hear, and in Thy faithfulness answer me. — Ps. 143 : 1 



OUR Father, our hearts overflow with gratitude 
when we recount Thy mercies. We feel our 
unworthiness when we remember all of Thy loving 
kindnesses toward us. Oh, gracious Father, patiently 
bear with us we pray Thee. 

Deliver us from the bondage of our lower and 
selfish desires, and make us free to give to Thee 
all of the love and service that should be Thine 
own. May we not work against Thee, or apart 
from Thee, but may we be one with Thee, and share 
in Thy purposes, Thy work, and Thy joy. 

How great is our unbelief! How Thou must be 
grieved at our doubts and our fears! Lord, increase 
our faith! When mountains of difficulties loom in 
our pathway, grant that we may have the faith 
to remove them. Help us to live forgetful of self, 
and may our service be such that we, like Paul, 
shall bear in our body the marks of the Lord 
Jesus. 

Deliver us from the formal religious life, and may 
the Holy Spirit lead us into the fulness of God's 
life for us, and within us. In the Name of the 
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 
Amen. 



Rev. Justix N. Green - , 
Cincinnati, Ohio. 



26 JANUARY TWELFTH 



The faithful God, which keepeth covenant. — Deut 7 : 9. 

OUR Heavenly Father, we come to thank Thee 
for Thy many mercies, and to invoke Thy 
protection and guidance for all the way of life. 
We rejoice that we may know Thee and love Thee 
and serve Thee and be like thee. Grant us grace 
to please Thee in all that we think and plan and 
do. Help us to live in such fellowship with Thee 
that Thou canst not only dwell in us, but work 
through us. Help us to share our blessings with 
others, and to find in our privileges an obligation 
to minister to those who need what we have. Be- 
stow upon us strength for our daily tasks; courage 
in the face of fears; comfort in sorrow; quiet in 
the midst of tumult; hope in the presence of un- 
certainty; high motives for humble as well as high 
deeds; self-control in the hour of provocation; gen- 
tleness and forgiveness when tempted to revenge; 
and the peace which passeth all understanding. Hold 
in Thy holy care all our loved ones, and keep guard 
over our interests in life. Give us to see the speedy 
coming of Thy Kingdom among all men, and let 
us have an increasing share in its establishment. 
Fill our hearts with songs of expectation, and flood 
our faces with morning light, and when the day is 
done, let the weariness of work make welcome the 
rest of home, we beg in our Redeemer's name. Amen. 



James I. Vance, D. D. 

Nashwlle, Term. 



JANUARY THIRTEENTH 27 



If any man lack -wisdom, let him ask of God, and He 
will give it him. — James 1 : 5. 

INFINITE Father, we have tried the world and 
found it a great emptiness; we come back to 
Thee Who art eager to fill our souls with everlast- 
ing truth and mercy. We come with a song in our 
hearts, for the list of Thy benefits is beyond our 
counting. 

We thank Thee for the stirring days of the present, 
with their opportunities for improvement and service, 
their concern for the poor and ignorant. We thank 
Thee for the mysterious, inviting days which are to 
come, laden with secret stores for our replenishing, 
hidden delights, and dark experiences for our train- 
ing. We thank Thee for the silent heroisms of the 
home; for the hallowed drudgeries of the sick cham- 
ber. We thank Thee that despite the cleverness of 
wicked men and the foolishness of good men, the 
Kingdom makes steady advance. 

Thy bounty unto us is without boundaries. And 
yet we baffle Thy plans, thwart Thy love, and wander 
wretchedly from the way of Jesus. We return unto 
Thee this morning to have our stains removed, our 
petty shams stripped away, and our hearts fortified. 
Have compassion upon us, and bring us all by and 
by to our Father's home, through Jesus Christ, our 
Lord. A men. 



Rev. Hugh Elmer Brown, 

Seattle, Washing ion. 



28 JANUARY FOURTEENTH 

Remember the Sabbath Day — Exodus 20 : 8. 

A Prayer for Sunday Morning. 

WE give Thee thanks, O Lord our God, for 
the rest we have enjoyed during the night, 
and for the light of another day. We give Thee 
thanks for Thy guidance during the week past, for 
labor and its rewards; for friendship and its en- 
joyments; and home, with its comfort and love. We 
are glad for the coming of another day of rest. 
May this Sabbath remind us of Him Who on the 
first day of the week rose from the dead. May we 
not forget that this is His day — and ours to use 
for Him. We ask for pardon of all past offences, 
and for deliverance from all habits of thought, 
speech, and conduct which dishonor Thee. Deliver 
us from impatience and anger. May we be tender- 
hearted, pitiful and courteous. We thank Thee for 
the Church, and pray Thee to make it a blessing 
to us, and make us a blessing to it. Bless all 
ministers and teachers of Thy Word. When the 
record of this Sabbath ends, may we have nothing 
to regret — no wasted opportunities, no misspent 
hours. And may we carry with us into the work 
of the week which is to come, an abundance of 
courage and self-control. Preserve our lives from 
harm and our hearts from evil. May the Master 
be our daily comrade and our constant guide. For 
His Name's sake. Amen. 

Charles Carroll Albertson, D.D., 
Brooklyn, N. Y. 



JANUARY FIFTEENTH 29 



For Thy Name's sake, lead me, and guide me. — Ps. 31 : 3. 

LORD, hear our prayer in the morning. We 
need Thee all the day, through all the days. 
We have our call to prayer at any hour, but partic- 
ularly when the night is spent, and Thou hast 
kindled the dawn as if Thou hadst made the day for 
us and only for us. Then we have strange need that 
Thou shouldst take our hand in Thine and our heart 
in Thine and our brain in Thine, and that our feet 
walk the road where Thy footprints should show the 
way though Thou shouldst need to leave us for a 
moment. W T e pray our morning prayer; we lift our 
singing hearts to Thee and praise Thee that all the 
ways we take we shall surely have the good com- 
panionship which on a day long since made hearts 
to burn, and turned a funereal day into one of 
laughter and great dreams. Blessed be the Lord, 
Who has guided our going all these years, and Who 
will continue to be our help and our rejoicing. We 
will make melody all day; we will walk modestly all 
day; we will work helpfully all day; we will do 
things which shall not need to be undone all day; 
and since these matters are too large for our accom- 
plishment, we ask Thy mighty aid. Fail us not, our 
God. Smile on our many activities and bid them 
Godspeed to the end, that at set of sun all may be 
well with our hearts, and we may be bidden by Thy- 
self a kindly good night. Amen. 

Bishop William A. Quayle, 
St. Paul, Minnesota. 



30 JANUARY SIXTEENTH 

The Lord shall guide thee continually. — Isa, 58 :11. 

OGOD, we pray for the grace which we need 
for the labors and duties of the day. Our 
hearts are open; our spirits wait upon Thee. The 
sensitive conscience which leads to right decisions 
is Thy gift. The loyalty and fidelity which we de- 
sire in living as worthy children of our Heavenly 
Father, Thou alone canst make possible. The 
patience we so much need to endure the buffetings 
of life is born of the Divine patience, and must 
come from Thee. The forbearance which we must 
have in dealing with others, we derive from Thee. 
The tenderness and love which lead us to seek out 
the needy and minister to them, Thou canst supply 
out of Thine unwasting fulness. We confess our sins, 
and ask that Thou wilt forgive us as we forgive 
those who trespass against us. Enlarge our hearts 
that we may have a great vision of personal holiness, 
of civic righteousness, of business integrity, of social 
service, and of missionary conquest. Give us as the 
ruling passion of our lives, the desire to bring in 
Thy Kingdom. To this end make us liberal with 
our gifts, responsive to the call to service. Above 
all, give us constant fellowship with Thyself, through 
Thy Holy Spirit. May the truth as it is in Jesus 
make us free and joyous as Thy children. May our 
daily lives be filled with thanksgiving to Thee for 
Thy manifold mercies, and chiefly for the gift of 
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Pres. Edgab Y. Muixins, D. D. LL. D. 
Louisville, Kentucky. 



JANUARY SEVENTEENTH 31 



Offer unto God thanksgiving. — IPs. 50 : 14. 

WE implore Thy blessing, our Father. Deliver 
us this morning from all our doubts and all 
that repels, and draw us near to Thee by all those 
encouragements which comfort the soul and which 
strengthen our faith, our hope, and our fidelity 
to Thee. We confess our sinfulness and we be- 
seech of Thee, day by day, to forgive our sins, and 
everything in us which offends. Give us not only 
clearer light, but grace to walk in that light. We 
pray that Thou wilt make our strength great when 
our burdens are heavy; that each of us may have 
a consciousness that God thinks of him, and over- 
rules all things for his good. May the sweetness 
of Thy presence and the light and the joy which 
spring from Thy heart, be the portion of each of us. 
May we be more and more devoted in prayer; more 
and more earnest for the salvation of men ; more and 
more vigilant in looking after those who are around 
us; more and more desirous of helping one another, 
bearing one another's burdens, and succoring those 
who need help. Wilt Thou comfort such as in 
bereavement mourn the loss of those who were dear 
to them. We again pray for the forgiveness of all 
our sins, and the consciousness of Thy continued 
favor and presence. 

And to the Father, Son, and the Spirit shall be 
praises evermore. Amen. 

Rev. J. W. Somervuxe 
Wichita, Kansas. 



32 JANUARY EIGHTEENTH 



Let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice. — Ps. 6 : 11. 

OUR Heavenly Father, we bow in Thy presence in 
child-like confidence, knowing that Thou art 
able and willing to hear our supplication, and 
graciously answer our prayer for Thy guidance dur- 
ing this day, which will be a day of opportunity, 
of blessing, of responsibility, and of testing. Grant 
us as a family Thy benediction and the special direc- 
tion of the Holy Spirit, so that in all our ways we 
may acknowledge Thee, and in all our undertakings 
and in the performance of our tasks we may please 
Thee, and worthily represent Thee. Bless us indi- 
vidually and collectively, and make us a blessing to 
all over whom we shall have the opportunity of 
wielding an influence to-day. May the meditation of 
our hearts and the utterances of our lips be accept- 
able in Thy sight, and may the gracious promise 
be fulfilled on our behalf: "As thy day, so shall thy 
strength be." Since each day hath its own peculiar 
temptations and trials, may we be able this day to 
cope with all our adversaries and successfully con- 
quer them, leaving our impress for good on all with 
whom we may come in contact. May we realize this 
day, as never before, the truthfulness of the promise : 
"The path of the just is as a shining light that 
shineth more and more unto the perfect day." In 
Jesus' name we ask it. Amen. 



Rev. W. H. Bucks, 
Cleveland, Ohio. 



JANUARY NINETEENTH 33 



And which of you with taking thought can add to His 
stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that 
thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? 
Consider the lilies how they grow ; they toil not, they 
spin not ; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his 
glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so 
clothe the grass, which is to-day in the field, and to-mor- 
row is cast into the oven ; how much more will He clothe 
you, O ye of little faith ?— Luke 12: 25-28. 



OGOD, Who knowest our necessities before we 
ask, and the manifold temptations we meet 
with day by day, help us to put our whole trust in 
Thee when despair and misgivings assail us. Suffer 
us not, we beseech Thee, to become the prey of 
useless forebodings, nor to lose the things which 
belong to our peace, through the habit of morbid 
and sinful worry. So guide us, in all our way, that 
we may keep our faces always toward the light, 
that our shadows may lie behind us. Of Thy great 
mercy enable us to perceive our blessings, that we 
may always serve Thee with a glad heart and quiet 
mind, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



Bishop Charles E. Woodcock, D.D., LL.D., 

Louisville, Kentucky. 



34 JANUARY TWENTIETH 



Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us. — Eph. 5 : 2. 

WE thank Thee, O God our Heavenly Father, for 
all of life's blessings. All we have comes 
from Thee, and all we do is by the strength Thou 
dost give us. Help us to love Thee with all our 
heart, and serve Thee with all our strength. 

We bring our family to Thee, with all its members, 
in whatever place or condition they may be, for 
Thy gracious care. If some are sick, or troubled, 
or tempted, be to them a great physician, a com- 
forting friend, and a mighty Saviour. 

Bless our daily occupations, and, if it please Thee, 
make our way prosperous. If adversity be better for 
us, make us patient and faithful in trial. Help us 
in all our perplexities to know Thy will, and make 
us ever ready to do what Thou desirest. Make us 
a blessing in our church, and make our church a 
blessing to others. May Thy Word be a light unto 
our path, and a lamp to guide all who are in any 
darkness. Bless the work of this day, fit us for its 
duties and responsibilities, overrule all our mis- 
takes, and pardon all our sins. We come to Thee as 
children to a dear Father, asking these and other 
things we need, for Jesus' sake. A men. 



S. S. Waltz, D.D., 

Louisville, Ky. 



JANUARY TWENTY-FIRST 35 



In His love and His pity, He redeemed them. — Isaiah, 63 : 9. 

OUR God, Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ, our Father through Him, we thank Thee 
most heartily for Thy very gracious disposition 
towards us. In Thy love Thou hast redeemed us, 
in the fulness of Thy grace Thou hast given unto us 
Thy Holy Spirit, the blessed Word, and all things 
needful for our spiritual welfare. 

We are grateful, our God, for Thy good provi- 
dence, whereby we enjoy the comforts and blessings 
of the life that now is. We humbly and earnestly 
pray for faith, hope, and love; for purity in our 
lives, for a discernment of divine leadership, and that 
trust in Thee whereby anxiety is banished. 

We pray for family happiness, for Thy presence 
in our home and in each of our hearts; and we ask 
Thee, most merciful God, to grant us pardon for all 
our sins which we freely confess. We ask for a 
rich blessing upon the household of God upon earth, 
upon the nation in which we live, and upon all 
people. 

We present our recognition of Thee, our thanks- 
giving, our petitions, and confession in the Name of 
Jesus, Who taught us to pray, and for His sake. Amen. 



Rev. Robebt W. Thompson, 
Pittsburg, Kansas. 



JANUARY TWENTY-SECOND 



Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye 
separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing ; 
and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and 
ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord 
Almighty.— 2 Cor. 6 : 17, 18. 

OUR Father, help us to be true to-day; help us 
to be faithful; help us to be kind. May Thy 
presence go with us and watch over us so that no 
evil may surprise us. Keep us from falling, keep 
us from stumbling. If temptation assails us, may we 
be given strength to resist it; if trouble awaits us, 
may we go forth courageously to meet it and may 
Thy grace be sufficient for us in the hour of our 
need. 

Especially we pray Thee that sin may have no 
dominion over us; save us from becoming hardened 
by its deceitfulness, or softened by its false soothing 
flattery. 

Make us generous in our judgments, tender-hearted 
in our feelings, sweet spirited and loving in all our 
dealings. Preserve us from being impatient and 
irritable. 

Implant within our hearts a genuine hatred for 
every form of defilement, and a sincere love for 
what is pure and Christ-like. Whatsoever things 
are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatso- 
ever things are lovely, may we think on these things 
to-day. For Christ's sake. Amen. 



Malcolm James MacLeod, D.D., 
New York City. 



JANUARY TWENTY-THIRD 37 



Blessed is the man that maketh the Lord his trust. 
— Ps. 40 : 4. 

ALMIGHTY GOD, our Father, we come to Thee in 
the early morning hour to give thanks for that 
loving care which has kept us during the night, to 
renew our strength, and to seek preparation for the 
work and responsibilities of the new day. In our 
blindness we cannot see what is before us, but Thou 
knowest; so we place our hands in Thine, that we 
may be led in a way that will glorify Thee, and make 
better and more fruitful our own lives. Share Thy 
richest morning blessings with our dear ones wherever 
they may be, and put about them Thy everlasting 
arms. Graciously manifest Thyself to the needy and 
distressed, to the sick and dying, and to all who look 
for salvation from sin. May the Holy Spirit of 
promise and power manifest Himself to all hearts and 
homes, and thus energize and make effective the 
agencies ordained for the saving of the whole world. 
Pardon our sins. May great peace fill our souls, 
enabling us to constantly walk in the quiet of Thy 
presence. At the close of the day may we possess 
consciences void of offense toward Thee, and toward 
all men, and realize that we have made another day's 
journey toward the heavenly home. Worthy is the 
Lamb that was slain to receive riches, and wisdom, 
and glory, and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Bishop William M. Weekley, D.D., 
Parkersburg, W. Va. 



38 JANUARY TWENTY-FOURTH 



He ever liveth to make intercession: for them. — Heb. 7 : 25. 

GRACIOUS GOD, our Father in Heaven, we bless 
Thee that hour by hour our lives have been 
enriched with the knowledge of Him who graciously 
interpreted the Infinite to our finite minds, and Who 
in reconciling love and saving mercy, brought us near 
to our Father in Heaven. 

Remembering our wilfulness of heart and prone- 
ness to sin, we would humble ourselves before Thee. 
Though, indeed, we have sought to do Thy holy will, 
yet have we fallen short in many things. We now 
confess our sins: "forgive us our trespasses." 

Once again, we ask that by the Holy Spirit given 
unto us, we may find our delight in the ways of 
God, and so be enabled in our daily walk to com- 
mend the Gospel of Christ to those among whom we 
move. 

Further, we beseech Thee to hear us on behalf of 
loved ones far and near, that they may share the 
blessings which we now ask for ourselves. And may 
Thy Kingdom come, and Thy will be done on earth 
as it is done in Heaven. 

These and other favors we beg in the Name of 
our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. 



James W. Thietle, D.D., LL.D., 

London, England. 



JANUARY TWENTY-FIFTH 



The righteousness which is of faith. — Rom. 9 : 30. 

HOLY FATHER, we thank Thee for the sweetness 
and goodness of Thy love. Thou hast sheltered 
our home, daily bearing our burdens, carrying our 
sorrows, and supplying all our needs. 

We thank Thee for Jesus our Saviour, for the 
Holy Bible, and for the Church. We praise Thy 
Name for the Gospel, and for all who are making 
known the goodness of salvation. 

We pray that Christian brethren may dwell 
together in unity, and put on love which is the bond 
of perfectness. May Thy righteous and peaceful King- 
dom come, till all men everywhere may hear and 
know of Jesus, and learn to live as He lived, and 
love as He loved. 

Teach us to be kind one to another, tender-hearted, 
forgiving. Give to us patience, meekness, gentleness, 
goodness, faith. May we have the blessedness of the 
pure in heart, and of the merciful. Fill us with the 
light of Thy presence, and lead us forth to do good 
unto all men. Keep Thou our going out and our 
coming in, from this time forth, and for evermore. 
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



Rev. Robert E. Elmobe, 
Cincinnati, Ohio, 



40 JANUARY TWENTY-SIXTH 



Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. — Ps. 104 : 35. 

OUR Heavenly Father, we are Thy children, and 
we come to Thee, bringing our sacrifice of praise 
and thanksgiving. Thou hast made us, and Thy love 
of us is unceasing. Thy love is the light of our life 
and Thy grace the strength of our hearts. Save us 
from forgetting Thee and Thy claims upon us. May 
we welcome our common duties and discharge them 
as in Thy sight; rejoice in the ties of kinship which 
bind us to one another, and never forget them; cour- 
ageously face our difficulties and carefully redeem 
the time, seeing that the days are evil. Help us 
to resist every temptation and especially those that 
assail our thoughts and stain our imagination. Give 
us power to hush the tumults of the flesh, and forti- 
tude to bear the burdens of life cheerfully. Deliver 
us from anxiety about the future, and strengthen 
in us the conviction that all things work together for 
good for those that love Thee. Enable us to profit by 
Thy patient and loving discipline. Fill us with the 
mind of Jesus, and make us ready for any sacrifice 
for Thy Kingdom of righteousness and peace and 
joy in the Holy Ghost. Quicken us, Lord, that we 
may seek first Thy Kingdom and Thy righteousness, 
and calmly wait Thy will, in the assurance that what- 
ever else is best will be given us. In the Name of 
Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amw. 



John Cliffobd, D.D. 
London, England. 



JANUARY TWENTY-SEVENTH 41 



I love the Lord becaue He hath heard my voice. — Ps. 116 : 1. 

OTHOU Who art the light of all who must walk 
alone in the path of shadows, teach us to so 
trust Thee that fear may no longer beset us. We 
confess that we have often faltered when we have 
put our own thoughts and imaginings in the place 
of Thine omniscience. We lament our constant 
reckoning with human weakness when Thou hast 
promised the joy of the Lord which shall be our 
strength. 

Teach us more of the power of purity, and forgive 
our sin of distrust of Thy love. If we cannot see 
beyond the turn of the road, may we yet be conscious 
of a companionship that leads us in confidence toward 
each new experience. Grant us the peace of Christ to 
quiet our feverish hearts, and lend courage for life's 
daily test of faith and discipleship. We covet the 
refreshing of Thy grace to lend strength for each 
new duty, and to enlarge our hearts to receive the 
fulness of Thy blessing. Lead us, we pray, into the 
green pastures and beside the still waters, that our 
spirits may be renewed at the fountains of Infinite 
Love — so shall we be heartened, and enabled to serve 
Thee more worthily in the name of Jesus Christ our 
Saviour. Amen. 



Charles Gorman Richards, D.D. 
Auburn. N. Y. 



42 JANUARY TWENTY-EIGHTH 



I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the 
house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand within Thy gates, 
O Jerusalem. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem : they shall 
prosper that love Thee. Because of the house of the Lord 
our God I will seek Thy good. — Ps. 122 : 1-2 ; 6 ; 9. 

Fob Sunday Moening. 

OLORD, Jesus Christ, Who on this day didst 
arise from the grave, send forth Thy quicken- 
ing Spirit, we beseech Thee, upon Thy people, that 
they may rise to newness of life. Drive away worldly 
cares, lift up our minds to high and noble thoughts, 
and to spiritual desires. 

Hear the prayers of all that are offered in public 
and in private, for themselves and for their brethren. 
Grant that all who can may attend the public worship 
of Thy church, and approach Thee with reverence 
and confidence. Bless the ministrations of Thy Word 
and Sacraments. Inspire those who speak and act 
in Thy name, with the spirit of truth, and love, and 
power. 

Meet the varied needs and fulfil the desires of Thy 
people. Bind us in fellowship one with another, as with 
Thyself. Enable us to go forth from the worship and 
instruction of Thy holy day with renewed strength 
and courage to perform the duties and bear the 
trials which are appointed for us. 

Grant this, and all our petitions, for Thy Holy 
Name's sake. Amen. 

Bishop Arthur C. A. Hall, 
Burlington, Vermont. 



JANUARY TWENTY-NINTH 43 



If My people pray, I will forgive their sin. — II Chr. 7 : 14. 

HELP us now, Lord, to draw near to Thee as 
a family. Incline our hearts to seek Thy 
face, and graciously withdraw the veil that we may 
be conscious of Thy presence. 

We ask Thee graciously to forgive all that Thou 
hast seen amiss, and to cleanse our hearts by the 
inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may per- 
fectly love Thee and worthily magnify Thy Holy 
Name. Help us, who have had much forgiven, to 
forgive others, even to seventy times seven. Keep 
us from envy and jealousy, from pride and passion, 
and from every thing that would grieve Thy Holy 
Spirit. May we indeed be dead unto sin, and alive 
unto righteousness, through Jesus Christ. 

Bless those whom we love. Comfort and help 
them in whatever circumstances they may be placed; 
and may they and we be finally gathered to the 
house of many mansions. Have mercy on all men, 
and bring them to the knowledge of the truth. These 
and all other petitions we offer in the name of 
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, and pray Thee 
to do for us exceeding abundantly beyond all we ask 
or think, for Thy mercies' sake. Amen. 



Rev. F. B. Meyer, B. A., 
London, England. 



44 JANUARY THIRTIETH 



Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God.— Judges, 18 : 15. 

OUR Heavenly Father: Thou hast made us for 
Thyself. We are the tender objects of Thy 
solicitude and care; Thou art more thoughtful of 
us and ours than we ourselves are. 

We are conscious of our weakness. Temptations assail 
us. Our lives are often in the shadows, and we are 
inclined from the right. Awaken in us, O Lord, a 
sincere desire for Thee, for Thy house, and for Thy 
welcome. Help us to feel that we can never satisfy 
our souls until we satisfy them in Thee. 

We feel deep within us the call of God to do our 
best. Do not permit us to rest in false security, in 
pleasant sins, or in popular falsehoods of whatever 
kinds. When we are satisfied with what we have 
done, show us the danger of losing our ideals of 
perfection. And when the way seems hard, and 
the by-paths pleasant and enticing, give us Thy 
gracious help. 

Hear us, our Father, in the forgiveness of our sins. 
May Thy Kingdom come in power, that all men 
everywhere may know Thee as Lord and Master. 
May Thy will be done in our lives, and in the world, 
near and far, as it is in Heaven. Through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen. 



Bishop Lawrence H. Seageb, D.D., 
Waterville, Illinois. 



JANUARY THIRTY-FIRST 45 



With thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto 
God. — Phil. 4 : 6. 



OUR Father in Heaven, we praise Thee for the 
mercy-seat to which we can come, and before 
which Thou art so pleased to have us bow. Help us 
to approach it with pure hearts and with sincere 
motives. Teach us our need of Thee. Show us how 
dangerous it is to live without the consciousness of 
Thy presence. Walk with us as Jesus walked with 
His two companions to Emmaus. Help us to com- 
mune with Thee as friend with friend. Prevent us 
from wilful sin. Subdue our heart's rebellion, and 
keep us at peace with Thee. 

Help us to be patient and sympathetic with all 
who may need our help. If we have wronged anyone, 
give us the grace of repentance and confession. If 
any have injured us, enable us to forgive and forget. 

Bless our home, and all who are dear to us by 
the ties of kinship and friendship. Inspire and 
strengthen us so that we will be able to glorify Thee 
in home, in school, in the factory, or shop. Forgive 
us wherein we may in any way have grieved Thee, 
and aid us in our efforts to avoid the mistakes of 
yesterday. Our prayer is in the name of Him Who 
loved us, and gave His life to save us. Amen* 



H. W. Crews, D.D., 

Woodstock, Ont., Canada. 



46 FEBRUARY FIRST 



Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven. — Ps. 32 : 1. 

ALMIGHTY GOD, we praise Thy name and worship 
Thee. Thou art infinitely holy. Through Jesus 
Christ, our Elder Brother and Mediator, Thou art our 
Father. We pray Thee to come very near to us, as 
we come to Thy throne of grace. 

Help us to trust Thee more each day. Thou dost 
send the days as Thou wilt; sometimes in darkness 
and storm; sometimes in brightness and peace. Make 
us submissive to Thy will in all things, only come 
Thou with all the days, that each may be full of Thee, 
and a step nearer to Thy sweet Home. 

Bless us all in this home — regard each one of us 
tenderly as we are bowed in this family circle : father, 
mother, children, all the loved ones. Make our home 
a resting place of security. In our outgoing and in 
our incoming be Thou our Light, our Guide, and our 
Defence. Give us each grace lovingly and trustfully 
to give ourselves into Thine hand, to be defended, 
instructed, and directed as Thou wilt, that in us Thy 
will may be done on earth as it is done in Heaven. 
Make all our lives musical with Thy praise; pardon 
our sins; grant unto us "the joy of Thy salvation," 
through riches of grace in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
Amen. 



W. H. Dunbae, D. D., 
Baltimore, Md. 



FEBRUARY SECOND 47 



Pray and make supplication. — II Chr. 6 : 24. 

OLORD Our God, we thank Thee for Thy Father- 
hood, and that Thou hast revealed Thyself unto 
us through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who is our 
Saviour. We thank Thee for Thy loving care of us 
through another day — for life and health and all 
the comforts we enjoy. Bless us as parents and 
children. Keep us from sinning against Thee. Help 
us to be faithful in our work, thoughtful of each 
other, kind and considerate and helpful to all. Watch 
over us through the night. If it please Thee, give 
us sleep, and bring us in safety and comfort to 
another day. May every day bring us a more per- 
fect trust in Thee, so that with our days we may 
learn how better to walk in Thy ways, and to do 
Thy Holy Will, and to become more like Him Who 
has taught us to pray, saying: 

"Our Father Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy 
Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in 
earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily 
bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive -our 
debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver 
us from evil, for Thine is the Kingdom, and the 
Power, and the Glory forever." Amen. 



Charles H. Robinson, D.D. 
Wheeling, W. Va. 



48 FEBRUARY THIRD 



Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the 
power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, 
that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the 
devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but 
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers 
of tbe darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness 
in high places. — Ephes. 6 : 10-12. 



OUR Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for the rest 
of the night, and the light of this new day. 
We also thank Thee for food and raiment and for 
every other blessing which in Thy goodness and wis- 
dom Thou hast provided for our need and comfort. 

We beseech Thee, grant us grace for the temptations 
of the day, and strength for every duty that may 
lie in our pathway. Help us truly to represent Thee 
to-day, and to this end may we hide "Thy Word" 
in our hearts, that we may not sin against Thee 
or our fellow men. Grant us the guidance and help 
of Thy good Spirit. Do Thou protect and defend us 
from all harm and danger, and when the day's work 
is done, bring us all again in safety to this, our 
home. 

These things we ask in the Name and for the 
sake of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. 



James M. S. Isenberg, D.D., 
Philadelphia, Pa. 



FEBRUARY FOURTH 49 



For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do 
not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might 
be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom 
and spiritual understanding ; That ye might walk worthy 
of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good 
work, and increasing in the knowledge of God : Strength- 
ened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto 
all patience and long suffering with joyfulness ; Giving 
thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be 
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. — 
Coloss, I. 

OUR Father! worthy of all honor and praise, and 
Whom we desire to worship in spirit, and in 
truth, help us humbly come to Thee in prayer in 
this quiet hour. 

May Thy hand, that hovered over us during the 
past night with protecting care, and measured to 
us the rich blessings of peaceful slumber and refresh- 
ing rest, now guide our feet to the duties of the 
day, and there shield us from harm. There give us 
Thy spirit of love and tenderness, Thy grace to sus- 
tain us in temptation and trial, Thy presence by Thy 
Spirit, to help us in all we may do. 

Dwell in this home ever. Lead us on to glorify 
Thee in all things, until at last, life's duties finished, 
receive us to Thyself above. Amen. 



Rev. P. H. Balsbaugh, 
Columbia, Pa. 



50 FEBRUARY FIFTH 



Whatsoever ye ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. — 
Matt. 21 : 22. 

OUR Heavenly Father, gratefully we acknowledge 
Thy continued, loving kindness in protecting us 
sleeping and waking, and in providing for our daily 
needs. Forbid that the regularity with which Thy 
mercies come should ever make us forgetful that they 
come from Thee. If Thou shouldst withhold a single 
one, we should plead for its renewal. 

Help us to meditate upon Thyself — Thy majesty 
and power, Thy tender compassion, Thy grief at our 
sinfulness, Thy grace to help in our time of need. 
May every gift of Thine come as a messenger from 
the Throne, summoning us to deeper devotion in 
heart and life. 

Above all, we thank Thee for the Son of Thy 
love, Thy most gracious Gift to men. 

Help us to tread aright the unknown path of 
another day. Lead Thou us on. And at its close 
may we be able to look back thankfully that by 
Thy grace we have heard Thy voice and followed 
Thee. Guide us in our perplexities; restrain us 
in our joys; comfort us in our sorrows; guard us 
in our temptations; and forgive us all our sins; 
for the sake of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. 
Amen. 



Rev. G. E. Morgan, M.A., 
London, England. 



FEBRUARY SIXTH 51 



To all which believe, He is precious. — I Peter 2 : 7. 

HEAVENLY FATHER, Thou Wlho art the author, 
sustainer and developer of life, from Whom we 
came, in Whom we live and move and have our 
being, and to Whom we shall go, we pray that our 
souls may be conscious of the larger life of which 
we are a part, that we may find its deepest realities, 
understand its eternal principles, experience its 
mighty forces, and move with its persistent current 
toward its divine goal. We thank Thee for Jesus, 
for His consciousness of the largeness of Thy life. 
We thank Thee that faith in Him and the reception 
of His spirit and the adoption of His life principles 
make real to us the same divine life that was so 
vital to Him. Forgive us for ever tainting or cir- 
cumscribing Thy life within us, for living only 
within the narrow confines of our own little lives, 
for failing to realize the largeness of the great 
spiritual world around us, for keeping aloof from 
any part of human life, and for devoting our energies 
and time to the sinful or lesser life objectives. We 
pray Thee to widen and deepen our life experi- 
ences, to keep us in sympathetic touch with all 
mankind, to help us make our lives genuine contribu- 
tions to the progressive and divine life movements 
of the world, and to have a real part in bringing 
all members of the Father's family to know the length, 
breadth, depth and height of the fullness of His 
life. Amen. 

Charles Herbert Rust, D.D., 
Rochester, N. Y. 



52 FEBRUARY SEVENTH 



Behold, God is my salvation ; I -will trust, and not be 
afraid. — Isa. 12 : 2. 

OH, Lord God, help us to pray that this day we 
may come nearer the Christ ideal than ever 
before. Grant that by every thought and act we may 
bespeak His character to ourselves and to those with 
whom we shall come in contact. Forbid that we 
should neglect any opportunity that may come, to 
be living witnesses for Him. 

Through the dangers and temptations, seen and 
unseen, which compass us about, bring us in safety to 
the close of day and to the close of this earthly 
pilgrimage. Bless those who are near to us by ties 
of home or friendship; and especially to those who 
know Thee not, manifest Thyself in power to-day. 

May the Gospel note of love ring out more clearly 
this day than ever before, and may the sunshine 
of truth enter all hearts where ignorance, super- 
stition and sin hold sway. May it bring cheer to 
the desolate ones, and hope to the despairing ones 
who may be near us, and yet who seem beyond 
our power to help. We pledge ourselves anew to 
the work of lifting the burdens of men and the up- 
building of Thy Kingdom. Amen. 



Rev. W. M. Gross, 
Cincinnati, Ohio. 



FEBRUARY EIGHTH 53 



Ye have not because ye ask not. — James 4 : 2. 

OUR Heavenly Father, it is with rejoicing hearts 
that we approach Thee in prayer. Thou hast, 
through Thy dear Son, brought "life and immortality 
to light." Thou hast revealed to us "the Lamb of 
God that taketh away the sin of the world." We 
come with confession upon our lips and penitence in 
our hearts, asking to be forgiven. Wilt Thou not 
bless us this day with the manifestations of Thy 
presence, of Thy peace, and of Thy power? Wilt 
Thou not use us in Thy service, and make our bodies 
to be the temples of Thy Spirit ? We are Thy "living 
sacrifices." Our eyes shall see for Thee; our ears shall 
hear for Thee; our lips shall speak for Thee; our 
hands shall work for Thee; our hearts shall beat for 
Thee. We are Thine. Bless Thou the members of 
this family circle. Thou hast given them the shelter 
of the roof, the warmth of the hearth, the nourish- 
ment of daily bread. Give them also the food that 
comes from Heaven, the robe of Christ's righteous- 
ness, and the assurance of an "inheritance which is 
incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not 
away." Protect them in the hour of danger, and 
deliver them in temptation. Keep them from evil, 
and make them to be a positive force for righteousness. 
Hasten the full coming of Thy Kingdom, the complete 
proclamation of Thy Gospel, and the universal 
acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as King of kings 
and Lord of lords. We ask it in His Name. Amen. 

Rev. DeWitt M. Benham, Ph.D., 

Baltimore, Maryland. 



54 FEBRUARY NINTH 



And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will 
answer. — Isa. 65 : 24. 

OUR Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for our home 
and our work and our friends. The morning 
calls us to the joy and toil and trial of a new day, 
and we want to begin it right, in the sense of Thy 
nearness and care. 

Give us strength to meet the common duties of the 
day, and to live with our kindred and friends hap- 
pily and helpfully. In our school life, in our home- 
making, and in our business, may we be guided by 
the purposes of Jesus. If it be Thy good will, keep 
us from great temptation to do wrong; and furnish 
us with strength for the trials which Thou wiliest 
us to endure. 

May Thy healing and comfort abide with those 
we love, who are in sorrow and sickness; make them 
brave and hopeful. 

We pray Thee to prosper us in our work, in order 
that we may use all our gains for the good of others. 

May our home and family be the abiding place 
of Him Who promised to be in the midst of those 
who love Him. In His Name. Amen. 



Ozora S. Davis, D.D., Ph.D., 
Chicago, Ills. 



FEBRUARY TENTH 55 



Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. 
—Rom. 14 : 22. 

ALMIGHTY and living God, Father of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, of Whom the whole family in 
heaven and earth is named, we beseech Thee to look 
with love and mercy on us, Thy children, throughout 
this day. Keep us in Thy faith and fear. Give us 
grace to resist the devil, and to renounce all his 
works and temptations. Guard us from the lusts 
and sins of the flesh. Shield us from the corruptions 
of the world. Make us diligent and faithful in our 
appointed work. Keep us patient under trial. In 
anxiety and worry, help us to find trust and peace 
in Thee. To Thee we offer our thoughts, words, and 
actions of this day, and beg that Thou wilt bless 
them. In ills of the body and vexations of spirit, 
be Thou our healing and our strength. Bless our 
friends and neighbors. Increase their joys and soothe 
their sorrows and their sufferings. Protect Thy Holy 
Church spread throughout the world, that it may 
abide with steadfast faith in the confession of Thy 
Xame. Take the dying to Thy rest, and comfort the 
departed with larger and larger measures of holiness 
and happiness. Dwell in our hearts, and guide us 
with Thy counsel, that after this life Thou mayest 
receive us with glory. All of which we ask through 
Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen. 



George McCleixan Fiske, D.D., 
Providence, R. I. 



56 FEBRUARY ELEVENTH 



He is faithful that promised. — Heb. 10 : 23. 

OUR Heavenly Father, we thank Thee that Thy 
watchful care has brought us safely into another 
day with its obligations, labors, delights, and trials. 
Give us strength to resist evil, and to cleave to that 
which is good. Help us to let our light so shine that 
others may see our good works, and glorify Thee. Be 
with those of us who go to work, and those of us who 
go to school, and those of us who take care of the 
home. Bless with us all other families who remem- 
ber Thee, and grant that in many homes who know 
Thee not, family altars may be erected, so that Thy 
Xame may be glorified in the family life. Bless the 
officers, members, workers, and enterprises of our 
Church, and of all churches that seek to enhance Thy 
Kingdom. Thrust more laborers into the Kingdom, 
and through increased missionary efforts let the 
world speedily be filled with the knowledge of the 
glory of the Lord. Bless our country and those who 
are directing its affairs. Give them grace, wisdom, 
and courage to promote righteousness at home and 
in our relations with other countries. Bless all the 
other nations of the earth, with their statesmen and 
rulers. May the spirit of fairness take possession 
of all of them, so that they will project into all 
international relationships, peace and harmony. We 
ask these favors in the name of our blessed Lord 
and Saviour, Jesus Christ! Amen. 

Rev. Che. Staerleb, 
Cleveland, Ohio. 



FEBRUARY TWELFTH 57 



He forgave their iniquity. — Ps. 78 : 38. 

OLORD, who hast proven that we may trust Thee, 
we seek Thy blessing in the beginning of the 
day, that we may carry its influence with us into the 
toil and trial of our busy life. We claim Thy suffi- 
cient grace, that we may be equal to every severe test. 

Give us wisdom, that we may undertake our tasks 
and do them as those who have learned of the Divine 
Workman. Take possession of our minds that to-day 
they may think Thy thoughts after Thee, and be 
intent upon working out Thy great plans through the 
best lives we can live. 

So rule us with Thy Spirit that our senses may 
be harnessed for Thy uses. Save us from falling into 
shameful sin. Prevent us from being mean, small, 
disagreeable, irritable, unsympathetic, as we touch 
other lives. Be our unseen Companion as we earn 
our daily bread — and help us to earn it honestly. 

Make us wholesome; keep us sweet. May others 
know to-day by our unobtrusive goodness that Jesus 
lives at our house. May we somehow be instru- 
mental in opening the doors of other homes for the 
incoming of this Heavenly Guest. 

We ask these favors in His Name. Amen. 



J. Bradley Maekward, D.D., 
Harrisburg, Penna. 



58 FEBRUARY THIRTEENTH 



I have loved thee with an everlasting love. — Jer. 31 : 3. 

WE thank Thee, our loving Father, for Thy 
watchful care over us through another night. 
Thou dost neither slumber nor sleep, and Thy ever- 
wakeful eye has been upon us in our unconscious 
moments, and Thy protecting and upholding hand has 
been underneath and about us. Thou art setting 
before us a new day, with all of its opportunities and 
possibilities for good or evil. This is one of the 
days concerning which Thou hast promised, "As thy 
day so shall thy strength be." Is not this one of 
the days for which Thou hast made such bountiful 
provision? Let us not venture forth upon the day's 
duties or difficulties without Thy guiding, upholding, 
protecting hand. Thou art able to do for us exceed- 
ingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think. 
Give us strength to conquer every temptation. Sur- 
round us with Thy gracious presence as a shield 
from every danger. Bless with us all whom we 
should specially remember at the Throne of Thy 
Grace. Wherever we can send a thought, Thou canst 
send a blessing. Let Thy blessing be suited to the 
capacities and needs of every one of them. May 
every heart be turned to Thee as the morning-glory 
turns to the light, and may their souls and ours be 
enlivened, purified, and strengthened by the light of 
Thy health-giving countenance. Amen. 



R. J. Millee, D.D., 
Pittsburgh, Penna. 



FEBRUARY FOURTEENTH 



Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness : 
he is gracious, and full of compassion and righteous. 
A good man sheweth favor, and lendeth : he will guide 
his affairs with discretion. Surely he shall not be moved 
forever : the righteous shall be in everlasting remem- 
brance. — iPs. 112 : 4-6. 

ALMIGHTY GOD, our Heavenly Father, we thank 
Thee that Thou hast taught us to call Thee 
"Father." In the strength of Thy Name we go forth 
to meet the temptations and the duties of this day. 
May we be worthy of being called Thy children. May 
we have Thy patience and tenderness in our dealing 
with others, especially with the members of our own 
household. May we have pity for all weak and 
tempted persons, and lend them our strength, as 
Thou dost lend Thy strength to us. Clothe us this 
day with the armor of light. May we have Thy 
purity, the horror of all evil thoughts and all unholy 
desires, and may they be overcome and cast out of 
our hearts by a passion for holiness. Whatever we 
have to do, may we do it so that it shall be well 
pleasing to Thee. Help us to adorn the doctrine of 
God our Saviour in all things. Preserve us in all 
danger; keep us in the way of life; and bring us at 
last to our Father's house in peace. Through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen. 



Henry Eveetson Cobb, D.D., 
New Twk City, N. Y. 



60 FEBRUARY FIFTEENTH 



Wait on the Lord, and He shall save thee. — Prov. 20 : 22. 

IN the Name of the Lord Jesus we bow in Thy holy 
presence, O God, to thank Thee for all Thy good- 
ness and mercy to us as a family and a household, 
and to ask Thy forgiveness for all wherein we have 
sinned and grieved Thy Holy Spirit. 

We pray for grace and guidance that we may so 
walk as to please Thee. Grant us Thy protecting 
care to shield us from accident and danger. And 
above all, we pray that, thus walking in Thy fear 
and love, we may know the joy of Thy salvation. 

And what we ask for ourselves, we pray for all 
who are dear to us. And very specially we com- 
mend to Thy Fatherly goodness any who are in 
sickness or sorrow or trouble, that Thou wilt 
graciously bless and sustain and comfort them. 

Thou nast given Thine only begotten Son that 
whosoever believeth in Him may have eternal life. 
Such is Thy love to the world. But Thou hast a 
still tenderer love for those who believe in Christ 
and are one with us in Him. For them we make 
our prayer to Thee. 

Hear us and bless us, we pray Thee, for the Lord 
Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. 



Sir Robert Anderson, K.C.B., LL.D. 
London, England. 



FEBRUARY SIXTEENTH 61 



Ask thy Father and He will show thee. — iDeut. 32 : 7. 

ALMIGHTY and Eternal Lord, we come by Thine 
own appointed way to Thee. The Name above 
every name is our only plea, and for His sake Who 
bears it Thou wilt hear and answer. What infinite 
grace Thou hast for all needy ones; what love and 
what compassion! Our souls adore and worship 
Thee for all Thou art, and for all that Thou hast 
done. W r e praise Thee for Thy Son, and for all that 
He has become to Thy trusting ones. Especially do 
our souls go up to Thee in adoring wonder as we 
think of His cross and passion. It is in the cross 
we find our hope. And now, Lord, wilt Thou 
create within us a simple faith in Thy Word, and 
cause us to see that naught of all Thou hast 
promised can ever fail of fulfilment. Evermore 
increase our faith. Keep us walking with Thee: 
safeguard us from all attacks of the evil one, and 
if it be Thy good pleasure, take us into the circle of 
Thy anointed ones, that we may effectively serve 
Thee. Help us in our daily duties, whether these lie 
in our home or business; therein may we honor and 
glorify Thee, and prove a blessing to our fellow 
men. Speed the coming of Thy Kingdom, and hasten 
the day when our Lord shall take His own Throne 
and reign gloriously. In the Name of Him Who 
loved us and gave Himself for us. Amen. 



Rev. Joseph W. Kemp, 
New York City, N. Y. 



62 FEBRUARY SEVENTEENTH 



Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving. — Ps. 147 : 7. 

HEAVENLY FATHER, we thank Thee for opening 
to us the doorway of a new day; and now that 
our feet stand upon the threshold of this great 
opportunity, we pray for guidance, wisdom, love 
and power. Thou hast seen fit to draw a curtain 
before our eyes, so that we know not what a day 
may bring forth. As we journey into the wilder- 
ness of the future, a pillar of cloud has hovered about 
us so that we cannot tell what enemies shall meet 
us to-day, what duties shall present themselves for 
performance, what temptations may grapple with us 
by the wayside, what sloughs of despair may await 
our unwary feet, yet we know that with Thy divine 
help we shall be more than victors through Him 
Who loved us. Keep us, God; our boat is so 
small, and Thy ocean is so vast. Enable us to lay 
aside every weight and sin which does so easily beset 
us. May Thy Fatherly protection be over those who 
are dear to us. Bless our enemies, if we have any, 
and give us right spirits to all mankind. Hasten the 
coming of Thy Kingdom, when injustice, impurity, 
unhappiness, and sin, shall be put down, and when 
love, truth, honor, and justice shall prevail in the 
Name of the Lord. Hear us now in this, our prayer. 
In Jesus' Name. Amen. 



Rev. Chaeles C. Selecman, 
Los Angeles, California. 



FEBRUARY EIGHTEENTH 63 



He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call 
upon Him. — Ps. 116 : 2. 

OUR FATHER, Who art in Heaven, may it be of 
Thy good pleasure, now in the light of a new 
morning, to look favorably upon Thy dependent 
children here kneeling as a united family of wor- 
shipers within the home which Thou hast appointed 
us, and to receive our humble thanksgivings for the 
perfect protection of Thy care, and for the refresh- 
ment of a healthful sleep granted by Thyself through 
the darkness of the night that is gone. 

And do Thou now, we beseech Thee, ordain to us 
for yet another day Thy watchful providence for our 
guard against all sickness and bodily peril; Thy 
wise counsel for our guidance into every right thought 
and unto every fitting word; Thy sufficient grace for 
our defense from all temptation to wrong, as like- 
wise for our enablement unto all fidelity in duty, and 
Thy atoning love to cover all our sins. 

Following Thee, may our hearts be cleansed from 
every motive unworthy of those who bear Thy Name, 
and may we be led to walk in charity and helpful- 
ness among all those who surround us, making mani- 
fest to every companion and acquaintance some fore- 
cast of Thy coming Kingdom, and dedicating our 
several lives to the service of Thy blessed will — 
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Noian R. Best, 

Neio York City. 



64 FEBRUARY NINETEENTH 



I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh 
my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made 
heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be 
moved : He that keepeth thee will not slumber. — Ps. 
121: 1-3. 



OGOD, Giver of light and power! We thank Thee 
for our Mountains of Transfiguration, for hours 
of insight and joy. But vision has not insured 
effectiveness in service. Like Thy disciples at the 
foot of the Mount of Transfiguration, "We are not 
able," and we come to Thee with the great question, 
"Lord, why could we not cast it out?" We know 
that all things are possible to him that believeth and 
that faith-filled prayer, whether it be fellowship 
with Thee or intercession for another, is efficient 
prayer. Help Thou our unbelief. Help us to come 
so closely and truly into Thy fellowship that we 
shall be filled with power not our own. May we 
be truly identified with Thee. May we perfectly imi- 
tate Thy mind, and so be filled unto all the fulness 
of God. So teach us in the school of true prayer, 
that this day may be one of continued joy because 
Thy power has free course in us. This we ask in 
the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 



William Horace Day, B.D., D.D., 
Los Angeles, California. 



FEBRUARY TWENTIETH 65 



He forgetteth not the cry of the humble. — Ps. 9 : 12. 



D 



EAR LORD, our Friend and our Saviour: Thy 
children come to Thy feet and look up into Thy 
face, for we know that Thou dost love us and that 
Thou art waiting for us. Be Thou ever the centre 
of our family life, and make us find our peace and 
our happiness in Thy presence. Our home can be 
blessed only when we know that Thou art with us, 
Help us to love one another as Thou dost love us; 
to be gentle and unselfish and forgiving; to be good 
children of our Heavenly Father. When we are 
troubled, do Thou quiet our fears. When we are 
tempted, do Thou grant us the victory. When we 
are sick, may Thine everlasting arms enfold us ; and 
when we go astray, O dear Shepherd, seek us and 
bring us home again. May our hearts be glad in 
the knowledge of Thy love. May our thoughts be pure 
because Thou rulest them. Let the sunshine of Thy 
favor drive away all shadows, and may we sing in 
the gladness of our spirits, since Thou art our 
Guardian and Friend, and therefore no harm can 
befall us. Help us to grow daily more like Thee, 
and at last take us to Thy Home, where we shall 
be happy forever. 

Hear our prayer, dear Christ, and help us and bless 
U3, for Thine own dear sake. Amen. 



Floyd W. Tomkens, B.D., LL.D. 
Philadelphia, Penna. 



66 FEBRUARY TWENTY-FIRST 



God hath attended to the voice of my prayer. — Ps. 66 : 19. 

OTHOU GOD of all grace, Father of mercies, the 
Hope of believers, Saviour of the penitent soul, 
hear our prayer. 

Thou hast revealed Thyself in such lovely charac- 
teristics and endearing relations, that we may remove 
all fear, and be encouraged in all trouble, and be led 
to say, "Let us draw nigh to God." 

Teach us, Lord, because we know not truth of our- 
selves. May we see divine things in a heavenly 
light, so that our minds may be informed and at 
the same time our hearts be sanctified. 

Consecrate our whole life to Thy service and glory. 
Search us, O God, and know our hearts; try us, and 
know our thoughts ; see if there be any wicked way 
in us, and lead us in the way everlasting. 

Accept our thanksgiving and praise for Thy gener- 
ous blessing in material refreshment and spiritual 
strength. Keep us under Thy guardian care so that 
whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, we may 
do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus and to the 
glory of God, through Christ our blessed Redeemer 
and Friend. Amen. 



George M. Diffexderfer, D.D., 
Carlisle, Penna. 



FEBRUARY TWENTY-SECOND 67 



This, the love of God, that we keep His commandments. 
— I John, 5: 3. 

OLORD, Thou art the high and lofty One Who 
doth inhabit eternity, Whose Name is Holy: 
Thou dwellest in the high and holy place, with 
him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit. 

We bow before Thee, humbly asking Thy pardon of 
our sins, through our Saviour. We thank Thee that 
Thou didst so love us as to give Thy beloved Son 
that we might live; and we rejoice that no one 
shall be able to pluck us out of Thy hands. 

We pray Thee that Thy Kingdom may come, and 
Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Do 
Thou support and empower everyone who labors for 
Thee at home or on the mission fields. Do Thou 
comfort and uphold all who are sick or bereaved, 
or troubled. May these trials bring them closer 
to Thee. 

We do desire that Thou wouldst give us grace and 
power to live rightly to-day, to do our work and 
to glorify Thee. Oh, keep us from falling or doing 
anything to grieve Thee or to bring sorrow to our- 
selves, or to anyone. 

We ask all in the Name of our Saviour. Amen. 



D. T. Reed, 

Pittsburgh, Penna. 



68 FEBRUARY TWENTY-THIRD 



He that hath My commandments and keepeth them, 
loveth Me. — 'John 14 : 21. 

MOST gracious God Almighty, all wise, all loving, 
our Heavenly Father, we rejoice that Thou 
hast called us to be Thy children. 

We confess before Thee, that we are indeed like 
little children, with all their weakness and imper- 
fections, but without their humility, purity, teach- 
ableness and trustfulness. Cleanse us from our sins. 
Grant us joy and peace in believing in Thee. May 
we have the love that believeth all things, hopeth 
all things, endureth all things. 

In our home, in our daily work and recreations, 
and in all our relations to others, make us strong 
and steadfast to do the right and shun the wrong. 
Bless us, that we may become a blessing to others. 

Remember, we beseech Thee, all classes and con- 
ditions of men — the sick, the sorrowful, the poor 
and needy, the widows and orphans, the little children 
with their sweet faith and childlike joys, the young 
and vigorous, bearing the responsibilities of life. 

Bless the missionaries at home and abroad. Be 
pleased to make Thyself known in the labors of the 
faithful pastors and teachers, and let Thy truth and 
righteousness govern the nations of the earth, through 
Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen, 



Rums W. Miller, D.D., 
Philadelphia, Penna. 



FEBRUARY TWENTY-FOURTH 69 



Continue in prayer, amd watch. — Col. 4 : 2. 

O FATHER, God, we thank Thee to-day for life — 
the privilege of living. Help us to-day to 
remember that "we live in deeds, not years; in 
thoughts, not breaths; in feelings, not in figures on a 
dial. We should count time by heart-throbs." May 
we ever be reminded that "he lives best, who thinks 
best, feels the noblest, acts the best." Help us 
to-day to so act that we may show our appreciation 
for life by our work. 

We thank Thee, too, God, for the chance to 
serve. May we to-day overlook no opportunity to 
reach out a helping hand, to speak a kind word, to 
show sympathy; and above all, help us to appre- 
ciate every service rendered by those who work with 
and for us. May we, O Lord, in all that we do 
this day, do our level best; may we think the high- 
est and best thoughts; may we strive to use our best 
efforts. Help us to strive to-day "not as though we 
had already attained, but that we might reach 
after" the spiritual life we long for. Then help us 
to "give to the world the best we have, that the best 
may come back to us." Hear us, Father, in the 
Name of Thy dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ! 
Amen. 



D. Walter Morton, A.M., C.P.A., 
Eugene, Oregon. 



70 FEBRUARY TWENTY-FIFTH 



Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities : for we 
know not what we should pray for as we ought : but the 
Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings 
which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts 
knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh 
intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 
And we know that all things work together for good to 
them that love God, to them who are the called according 
to his purpose. — Romans 8 : 26-28. 

THE way is long, our Father, and sometimes 
very weary. We crowd and bruise one another 
in passing, and often we forget the goal in the 
heat and hurry of the pilgrimage. Start us forth, 
we pray, each day with fresh courage, and whisper 
in our hearts a little song to gladden our steps as 
we take up our burdens anew. Grant that the 
lightest of these may ever be our conscience, and 
that we may never be too laden with personal 
troubles to carry the balm of sympathy for friend 
and foe. Above all, grant us the gift of clear 
vision, that we may pierce the doubts and fears of 
the passing moment, and dwell with unfaltering 
confidence upon the ultimate fact of Thy love. Amen. 



Louisville, Ky. 



FEBRUARY TWENTY-SIXTH 71 



O, satisfy us early with Thy mercy ; that we may 
rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad according 
to the days wherein Thou hast afflicted us, and the years 
wherein we have seen evil. And let the beauty of the 
Lord our God be upon us ; and establish Thou the work 
of our hands upon us : yea, the work of our hands establish 
Thou it. — Ps. 90: 14-17. 

DEAR LOED, let us do our work each day, and 
if the darkened hours of despair overcome us, 
may we not forget the strength that comforted us 
in the desolation of other times. In these times of 
backsliding 7 , when so many allurements are held out 
by the world, let that great force which turned our 
life from darkness into Thy most marvelous light 
be ever present, and the '"refining fire go through 
our hearts, illuminating our souls." May Thy blessed 
Word be a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto 
our path. Lift our eyes from the earth; forbid that 
we should judge others, lest we ourselves be con- 
demned. Help us to understand Thy precious Word, 
and at this stage of the world's history may we be 
constantly looking for Thy glorious reappearing. Let 
us be like the wise virgins, constantly having on 
the wedding garments. Amen. 



Rev. A. Sheldrick, 
East Northfield, Mass. 



72 FEBRUARY TWENTY-SEVENTH 



The Lord looseth the prisoners : The Lord openeth the 
eyes of the blind : the Lord raiseth them that are bowed 
down ; the Lord loveth the righteous : The Lord preserveth 
the strangers ; He relieveth the fatherless and widow ; but 
the way of the wicked He turneth upside down. The 
Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all 
generations. Praise ye the Lord. — Ps. 146 : 7-10. 

OH GOD, our Father! How precious to us is the 
privilege of having Thy Name linger on our lips, 
giving us new assurance of the fact that we are 
in the circle of Thy love and care. May this confi- 
dence drive away all fear and anxiety, and help to 
keep out of this day all other enemies of our souls. 
In the moment of our temptation, may we realize 
Thy promise and Thy presence. When burdens be- 
come heavy, may we find the strength necessary in 
Thee. In face of all difficulty and every problem, 
may we be brave because of our faith. For what- 
ever these hours bring, may Thy grace be sufficient. 
Whatever we do, may we do it all to Thy glory. 
May this day bear the divine mark in the calendar 
on earth, and in Heaven. 

We leave our prayer where all prayer belongs — 
in the shadow of the Cross. Amen. 



Cortland Myers, A.B., D.D., 
Boston, Massachusetts. 



FEBRUARY TWENTY-EIGHTH 73 



As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten : be zealous 
therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and 
knock : if any man hear my voice, and open the door, 
I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he 
with Me. To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit 
with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am 
set down with My Father in His throne. — Rev. 3 : 19, 20, 21. 



OL0RD, Thou art ever knocking at the door of 
our souls, seeking entrance into our lives. 
Help us to recognize Thy knockings, and to open to 
Thine entrance. 

We would have our hearts open to Thee at all 
times — in sunshine or in shadow, in joy or in sorrow. 
Whether Thou comest in the time of the singing of 
birds, or in winter's chilling blasts, may we receive 
Thee joyfully. 

Show us that we need Thee more than anything 
that Thou mayest give us, and that Thou, Thyself, 
art more than all Thy gifts. So, when Thou knockest, 
Lord, may we open to Thee, and receive Thee as an 
abiding guest. Amen, 



H. H. Beattys, D.D., 
yew Rochelle, New York. 



74 FEBRUARY TWENTY-NINTH 

The Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. — iPs. 116 : 7. 
(The Extra. Day) 

OGOD, in Whose hand is our breath, Thou hast 
given and received our yesterdays, and dost 
know what our to-morrows hold for us. We thank 
Thee for to-day. We seek to keep pace with the 
goings of Thy sun and, therefore, add this day to 
our year. But we cannot ever keep up with the 
glory of Thy gifts, since Thou dost do for us exceed- 
ingly abundantly above all we are able to ask or 
to think. 

We praise Thee that, when we give ourselves to 
Thee, Thou dost give us "good measure, pressed 
down, and shaken together, and running over." Thy 
extra gifts come to us in pleasant surprises, in our 
enlarging selves, in beautiful experiences here that 
"eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have 
entered into the heart of man," in the exhaustless 
Christ, and in Thy forgiveness. 

Fill our hearts with greater tides of love that in 
the depths of our souls we may increasingly abound 
in gratitude to Thee for all Thy gifts that are more 
than can be numbered. Help us to forsake our mur- 
murings, to forget our bitterness in penitence for our 
sins, and daily to look for the joys that belong to 
that perennial newness of life into which Thy holy 
grace has called us. Through Jesus Christ, our 
Lord. Amen. 

W. C. Bitting, D.D., 

St. Louis, Missouri. 



MARCH FIRST 75 



Let them that love Thy Name be joyful in Thee. — Ps. 5 : 11. 

MOST Gracious Father, we lift up our hearts 
unto Thee, from Whom alone comes our 
strength. Help us to trust Thee so wholly that we 
trust Thee in the dark. Thy mercies are fresh every 
morning and renewed to us every night. Help us 
to praise Thee for Thy goodness and to rest in 
Thy love. Thou knowest what we have need of 
before we ask Thee. Grant us all that Thou seest we 
need. Save us from suffering and want, from sick- 
ness and misery, from doubt and perplexity, from 
temptation and sin. Teach us that Thou carest for 
us, and nothing can harm us or separate us from 
Thy love. Relieve us from anxiety and fear, that 
our minds may be at leisure from themselves to 
soothe and sympathize. Make us useful in the world 
in which Thou hast placed us, and zealous in service 
to Thee. Forgive us our sins, in Jesus Christ; give 
us Thy Spirit to dwell within us, and grant us 
the joy of conscious communion with Thee. Conform 
us ever more closely to Thine image as Thou hast 
revealed it to us in Jesus Christ; lead us in the paths 
of holiness; and take us at last unto Thyself to 
dwell forever in Thy presence, the recipients of Thy 
favor and love. And. all we ask, we ask in the Name 
and for the sake of Thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 



Bexjamin B. Warfield, D.D., LL.D. 

Princeton, A T . J. 



76 MARCH SECOND 



Make the voice of His praise to be heard. — Ps. 66 : 8. . 

OUR FATHER, we thank Thee for the day which 
is before us. Its light awoke us with gladness; 
and its evening shadows will beckon us to rest. 
It is an emblem of Thy gift of life to us. For life 
is made up of joy and sorrow, like the clouds with 
the sun shining through, and of toils and responsi- 
bilities, and hopes like the morning, and memories 
glorifying all like the rays of the sunset. Help 
us to be grateful and worthy of Thy gift. Lord, 
we are thankful above all for this household of 
ours. Through its ministry we better understand 
Thee. What we are to our little ones Thou art to 
us; and what our children are to us, we are to 
Thee. When we think of it, love sweeps over us 
like the summer, and we know the joy of Thy favor, 
and feel the security of Thy care. In parenthood 
Thou dost come close to us, and in childhood we draw 
close to Thee. Bless Thou our children and all our 
loved ones, and make each one of us worthy of love 
and confidence human and divine. We are sorry for 
the harsh word and the unkind act. Even as we 
are sorry for our own faults, we forgive one 
another. Do Thou forgive us each one, O Father, 
for every indifference and sin against Thee. Guard 
us and keep us to-day. Amen. 



X. McGee Waters, D.D. 

Brooklyn, New York. 



MARCH THIRD 77 

He will be our guide even unto death. — Ps. 48 : 14. 

ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, we begin 
the day conscious of our helplessness, and Thy 
supreme and sovereign power. As Thou didst give us 
life, so we implore Thee to sustain it and to make 
us ready and fit for our larger service. For Thy 
care and protection through the night we praise 
Thee; the day and the night to Thee are both alike. 
As Thou hast watched about our beds, so we believe 
Thou knowest and plannest all our ways. Do Thou 
prepare us for all that Thou art preparing for us. 
If perchance we should fail in our fulfilment of Thy 
plan concerning us, do Thou gently correct us and 
restore us to Thy love and favor. If disappoint- 
ments or sorrows should attend us, make us strong to 
bear our burdens, and enrich us with Thy sustain- 
ing grace. Make us ever faithful in each particular 
duty; loyal to every high claim, responsive to every 
obligation to Thee and to those about us. Give us 
to know the way that leadeth unto life eternal, and 
fill us with the peace that passeth understanding. 
May the shadows and the sunshine alike develop 
and ennoble our characters. Bind us as a house- 
hold with the ties of a sacred love, and make us 
worthy of Thy continuing care and favor. May 
we live this day as heirs of eternal life, and rise 
ever more and more unto the measure of the stature 
of the fulness of Him Who for our sakes became 
poor, that we through His poverty might be made 
rich — Thy Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

James E. Freeman, D.D., 

Minneapolis, Minn. 



78 MARCH FOURTH 

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle 
were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not 
made with hands, eternal in the heavens. — II Corin- 
thians 5 : 1. 

OUR Father Who art in Heaven, we thank Thee 
for the mercies of the past day and night; for 
food and clothing, for sleep and shelter; for the 
companionship of our fellow men, and for daily 
opportunities for usefulness. By our receiving these 
mercies may we also recognize the duties which they 
imply. May our love to Thee and our love to our 
fellow men ever grow stronger by their daily exercise. 
Give us grace to face the future with equanimity. 
We profoundly believe in the future life, and that 
Thou hast not created the wonderful minds of the 
past and the present — minds so fruitful in searching 
out the secrets of nature and of the human mind and 
body, and in devising the many means and methods 
by which man's comfort, intelligence, and general 
welfare are so wonderfully promoted — only to vanish 
into oblivion at the death of the body, which is mortal. 
We believe that Thou hast given to each of us an 
immortal soul, capable of dwelling with Thee in ever- 
lasting bliss. May we so order our lives in this, our 
temporary home, as to be fitted by Thy grace to inhabit 
our eternal home. Help us by precept and example 
to influence our fellow men to accept Jesus Christ 
as their personal Saviour, and to enjoy this same 
faith in the future life. All of this we ask in the 
Name and for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Amen. 

William W. Keen, M.D., LL.D., 
Philadelphia, Penna. 



MARCH FIFTH 79 



God forbid that I should sin in ceasing to pray. 
— I Samuel 12 : 23. 

FATHER in Heaven, we turn unto Thee in the 
morning of this new day, in loving gratitude 
for Thy care over us through the past night. We 
thank Thee to-day for home and food and clothing, 
for service to which Thou hast called us, and for a 
measure of health and strength to serve Thee, for 
friends to love and serve, and above all, for the 
revelation of Thyself through Jesus Christ, our 
Lord. 

We pray Thee to bless cur home to-day; guard 
every one of us in the hour of temptation; keep 
our feet from the paths of sin; keep us from using 
selfishly any of the blessings that Thou hast be- 
stowed upon us. Fill our lives with the joy and 
peace and satisfaction that comes from living in 
obedience to Thee. 

Cleanse and purify Thy Church, and strengthen 
it for the service for which Thou hast redeemed it, 
empowering all those who preach and teach Thy 
blessed Word in our land and in distant lands. Fill 
Thy Church with a passion to finish the task Thou 
hast given it to do. 

Grant to every one we love Thy richest and 
fullest blessing for this day. We pray in the Name 
of Jesus Christ. Amen. 



W. B. Anderson, D.D., 
Philadelphia, Penna. 



80 MARCH SIXTH 



We give thanks to God always for you all, making men- 
tion of you in our prayers ; Remembering without ceasing 
your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of 
hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and 
our Father ; Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of 
God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, 
but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much 
assurance. — I Thessaloniarns 1 : 2-5. 



ETERNAL GOD, our Father! Ere we go out into 
the world to meet its trials and temptations, 
we come to Thee for strength to fortify our spirits. 
Give us Thine own armor — Truth in our thoughts and 
motives, our words and actions; a sense of obliga- 
tion in our work and in all our relationships; 
courage to face difficulty, because we know we are 
true and therefore have the Father with us. May our 
daily tasks, whether commonplace or exalted, be 
glorified in the consciousness that we are doing 
our Father's bidding. Give us patience with the 
shortcomings of others, and wisdom in the discip- 
lining of our characters. May no evil blight this 
day, and mar the finished structure of our lives, 
but may we keep ourselves unspotted from the 
world. And as we go our several ways, wilt Thou 
watch between us while we are absent one from 
the other. Grant us this prayer in Christ's name. 
Amen. 



Chart.es A. Eaton, D.D., M.A. 
~New York City, N. Y. 



MARCH SEVENTH 81 



Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, 
and all these things shall be added unto you. — Matt. 6 : 33. 



OUR Father in Heaven, we bless Thee that Thou 
art near at hand, and not afar off. We thank 
Thee for Thy protecting care and Thy sustaining 
grace. We rejoice in our material comforts and 
our social joys. We recognize Thy Hand in all the 
good of life. 

Forgive us our sins that are past through the 
mercy and forbearance of God. Make us pure and 
strong and true this day. Bless us and ours, and all 
mankind. May Thy Kingdom come! May righteous- 
ness and peace and good will prevail in all the 
relationships of mankind. 

May we go forth to our tasks to-day in the fear 
of God, and with a rejoicing sense of Thy presence 
with us, and when the evening shadows gather may 
we go to rest with the assurance that He Who 
keepeth us doth not slumber nor sleep. May we do 
our work well through life, and when the day of 
life is over, when our work is done and the night 
comes on, at eventide may it still be light unto us. 
In Jesus' Name. Amen. 



Rev. A. S. Tuttle, M. A., 
Medicine Hat, Alia, Canada, 



MARCH EIGHTH 



Ask of God, and He will give it Thee. — John 11 : 22. 



OUR Father, we thank Thee for the home with its 
protection and loving fellowship. Whatever else 
it may or may not be rich in, make it rich in the 
presence of Thy Holy Spirit in fulness and power. 

Forgive and forget, we beseech Thee, for the sake 
of our Saviour and Thy dear Son, the sins of our 
lives, and cleanse us in His precious Blood. 

Send each one of us forth filled with the spirit 
of our Master, which is the spirit of unselfish service. 
Strengthen us to do every proper task, teach us to 
be kind and helpful to others in Christ's name, 
make of us blessed channels of Thy mercies, and 
lead us into that pathway of life in which we can 
best glorify Thee and serve our fellowmen. 

Make our home life continually more Christ-like, 
and may that life as well as our individual lives 
react for good on all with whom we come in contact. 
Hasten, through the service of our lives, the coming 
of Thy world-wide Kingdom, and the crowning of 
King Jesus, in Whose Name we pray. Amen. 



Peof. William J. Martin, 
Davidson, N. C. 



MARCH NINTH 



The Lord is good to the soul that seeketh Him. — Lam. 3 : 25. 

INFINITE FATHER, Thou art our life and light, 
our hope and redemption. We have tried the 
world and found it a great emptiness; we come back 
to Thee Who art eager to fill our souls with ever- 
lasting truth and mercy. 

We come with a song in our hearts, for the 
list of Thy benefits is beyond our counting. We 
thank Thee for the stirring, stimulating days of 
the present, with their opportunities for improve- 
ment and service, their concern for the poor and 
ignorant. We thank Thee for the mysterious, invit- 
ing days which are to come, laden with secret stores 
for our replenishing, hidden delights, and dark ex- 
periences for our training. 

We thank Thee for the silent heroisms of the 
home; for the hallowed drudgeries of hospital and 
sick chamber. We thank Thee that, despite the 
cleverness of wicked men and the foolishness of good 
men, the Kingdom makes steady advance. Thy bounty 
unto us is without boundaries. And yet we batfle 
Thy plans, thwart Thy love, and wander wretchedly 
from the way of Jesus. We return unto Thee this 
morning to have our stains removed, our petty shams 
stripped away, and our hearts fortified. Have com- 
passion upon us, and bring us all by and by 
to our Father's home, through the riches of grace 
in Christ Jesus. Amen. 

Rev. Hugh Ex,meb Beoww, 

Seattle, Washington. 



84 MARCH TENTH 



We are more than conquerors through Him that loveth us. 
— Rom. 8 : 37. 

HEAVENLY FATHER, the strength of all who 
put their trust in Thee, be with us each day, 
we pray Thee, to uphold our hands and guide our 
hearts that we may give of our best to Thy service. 

Thou knowest our weakness, how much we care 
for the opinion of others. Give us of Thy strength, 
that we may never be afraid to do Thy will. Each 
day there come temptations, sorrows, successes; 
may we be ready to meet each with a clear faith 
in Thee and an earnest trust in Thy goodness. 

Help us as we go about our daily task, in the mill 
or the office, the school or the home, to have pure 
thoughts and clean lips. 

May we try to give ourselves in helpfulness to 
those with whom we come in contact, each day 
making some one happier by word or deed, so that, 
as the evening comes and the shadows lengthen, we 
may go to our rest happy in having been of service 
to the world. 

Grant that we may, by our surrender to Thee, 
and our sacrifice for others, gain the strength to 
bear the cross, following His footsteps, in Whose 
Name we offer this, our imperfect prayer. Amen. 



Rev. Edward H. Boxsall, Jb. 
Morton, Penna. 



MARCH ELEVENTH 85 



He knoweth our frame ; He rememberetb. that we are dust. 
-— Ps. 103 : 14. 



OLORD, we come to Thee in the name of Jesus, 
Who is the way, the truth, and the life. Thou 
art a great God, and we would approach Thee with 
feelings of reverence and holy fear. But Thou art 
also our Father, having created and redeemed us, 
and we come with the love and confidence of children. 
We thank Thee that we have a friend and advocate 
in Heaven, ever our Saviour, Who was tempted in 
all points like as we are, yet without sin, and W T ho 
can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. 
We adore Thee, the Triune God, Father, Son, and 
Holy Spirit. 

Every good gift is from Thee. All our hopes are 
in Thee. Cast us not away from Thy presence. Look 
with compassion upon us, and blot out all our sins. 

Teach us Thy will, and lead us in a plain path. 
Make us willing to be used in Thy Kingdom. Forbid 
that we should lay a stumbling block in the way 
of another. As we grow in years, may we grow in 
grace. Prosper Thy Church in this and all lands. 
Speedily bring all nations to accept Jesus as Lord 
and Saviour. We ask it in His Name. Amen. 



Charles P. Wiles, D.D., 
Philadelphia, Penna. 



86 MARCH TWELFTH 



We are bound to thank God always. — II Thess. 1 : 3. 

OUR FATHER, we thank Thee that Thy mercies 
are still upon us, and that Thy love wraps us 
round about. We bless Thee for the joy of exist- 
ence, and for every good and beautiful thing Thou 
hast put into our lives. Thou hast set beauty in 
all the world about us, and Thou dost seek us 
through every sense we have. We know that Thou 
art merciful, for there has never been a moment 
of our lives in which Thou hast dealt with as 
according to our sins. We bless Thee for the exceed- 
ing riches of Thy grace, and Thy kindness toward us 
through Christ Jesus. 

At the close of another day we come to Thee for 
Thy benediction, and commit ourselves to the love 
that has never failed us. Look upon us in Thy 
tender compassion, and take away all our trans- 
gressions. Let the everlasting arms be underneath us. 
Give us rest in Thy love. Keep us from sin and from 
sorrow. Teach us to do Thy will, and lead us in 
the way everlasting. Quicken us by Thy Holy Spirit, 
and help us always to be obedient to Thy voice, 
submissive to Thy will, and responsive to Thy love. 
We ask it in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. 
Amen. 



David F. McGnx, D.D., 
Ben Avon, Penna. 



MARCH THIRTEENTH 87 



God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 
— James 4 : 6. 

OUR Gracious God and Father, we praise Thee 
for constant access to Thee in Jesus Christ. 
We bless Thee for Thy gifts day by day for spirit, 
soul and body. We thank Thee that Thou art ever 
the same in Thy unchanging love and grace and 
we rejoice that we may draw from Thy fulness each 
moment acccording to our needs. Grant to us a deep 
and increasing consciousness of the preciousness of 
Christ as our Divine Redeemer, and a growing assur- 
ance of the constant supply of Thy Holy Spirit for 
daily living. Teach us by that Spirit how to depend 
continually on Thy grace, and how to receive that 
grace by simple faith, and how to appropriate for 
our life the rich provision Thou makest for us. 
Then may Thy love be reflected in our daily conduct 
and may it constrain us to live to Thy praise, and 
to be the means of helping others as Thou art helping 
us. We desire to show "Whose we are and Whom we 
serve" and to be a channel of blessing at home 
and abroad. 

Bless our relatives and friends, with all needful 
grace, and give to them and to us such a deepening 
sense of Thy love that we may do our utmost to 
make known the Gospel to those in far off lands. 
And so for our loved ones, for our friends and 
acquaintances and for Thy whole Church, we seek the 
fulness of Thy blessing, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. Amen. 

W. H. Griffith Thomas, D.D., 

Toronto, Canada. 



MARCH FOURTEENTH 



Ask and it shall be given you. — Luke 11 : 9. 



OUR Heavenly Father, accept our thanks for the 
re-creation of body and mind Thou hast given 
us in the hours of wonderful sleep. 

Help us to be so attentive to the still small voice 
of our Teacher and Guide, the Holy Spirit, that 
whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do this day, 
all shall be done to Thy glory. 

We desire that Thy Kingdom come and Thy will 
be done in our hearts, our home, our city, our" coun- 
try, and in all the earth. We so desire this, that 
here and now we offer Thee our bodies, our minds, 
our reputations, our characters and our lives, and 
ask Thee to use each and all as seems best to Thee. 

So relate us and all we have to Thy work in the 
world, that we may count for most in Thy Kingdom. 
So teach and train us by Thy Word and daily provi- 
dences that we shall trust Thee daily for our daily 
needs, and witness for Thee by being as peaceful and 
joyous in disappointment, adversity, or affliction, as 
in prosperity. 

We ask it in the name of Jesus, our Saviour. 
Amen. 



William B. Stubbs, 
Savannah, Georgia. 



MARCH FIFTEENTH 89 



I will extol Thee, my God, King ; and I will bless Thy 
Name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless Thee ; 
and I will praise Thy Name for ever and ever. Great is 
the Lord, and greatly to be praised ; and His greatness 
is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Thy works 
to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts. — Ps. 
145: 1-4. 



WE thank Thee, our Father in Heaven, for life 
and health and home. Thou hast brought us 
this new day, with its new blessings and its new 
duties. As we go out to our new tasks and pleasures, 
may we carry hearts full of love to Thee and to 
everybody. We lay our hands in Thine, and we 
trust Thee to lead us in the right and safe way. 
We are glad to know that Thou art with us, and 
we are going to try to do nothing that would drive 
Thee away from us. Teach us to walk in the foot- 
steps of Jesus, Who went about doing good. Bless 
every member of our family, bless our friends, and 
if we have enemies, bless them. Help our eyes to 
see and our ears to hear and our hearts to love that 
which is true and clean and good. We trust Thy 
care to bring us safely to our Heavenly home when 
the day of life is ended. Wo ask all this for Jesus' 
sake. Amen. 



J. C. Armstrong, D.D., 
Kansas City, Missouri. 



90 MARCH SIXTEENTH 



When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is 
in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and 
thy mother Eunice, and I ain persuaded that in thee also. 
Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir 
up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of 
my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, 
but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. — 2 Tim- 
othy 1 : 5-7. 



OUR Father, we thank Thee for binding this fam- 
ily together by the sacred tie of common 
blood. We remember with how much sacrificial 
love its life has been created and sustained. We 
bless Thee for a mother's travail and tenderness, for a 
father's faithful toil. Knit us together by our com- 
mon joys and sorrows, so that even if we are far 
removed from one another, nothing may estrange 
our hearts. W T hen the youngest of us is old and 
gray-headed, may the memories of our home still be 
sweet and dear. May the children's children of this 
family still have the vigor and virtues of our best 
forefathers, and may the faith, too, of our fathers 
burn brightly in their hearts. Deal graciously with 
our loved ones. Give us our daily bread and strength 
for our daily tasks. To Thee we commit the life and 
destiny of each, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 
Amen. 



Prof. Walter Rauschenbusch, A.B., D.D., 
Rochester, New York. 



MARCH SEVENTEENTH 91 



Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice. — Ps. 27 : 7. 

OLORD, our Lord, how excellent is Thy Name 
in all the earth. Thou art our God, and the 
God and Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ, through Whom we, Thy children of faith, 
have the forgiveness of our sins. Thou art our 
fathers' God; and Whom they in the flesh confidently 
worshipped, we, their children, would also reverently 
worship and adore. 

Humbly, yet devoutly, would we give thanks 
to Thee, O God, for Thy great love revealed to us 
in Christ; and for Thy rich and unfailing provi- 
dences to us, and to all men. For Jesus' sake, receive 
our thanks. Continue Thy loving favors to us, and 
grant us pardon for sin, and life eternal. 

Give us, we beseech Thee, the Holy Spirit as our 
Guide this day, into truth. May He ever comfort us 
and all Thine in times of sorrow or of trial. May 
He strengthen us when we are weak. May He raise 
us up again, if we fall. May He interpret Thy 
Word to us, and enable us to do Thy holy will with 
gladness of heart. 

W T ith us, bless also this, our nation, and the 
whole world with Heavenly peace, for Jesus' sake. 
Amen. 



John Grant Newman, D.D., 
Philadelphia, Penna. 



92 MARCH EIGHTEENTH 



Thy face, Lord, will I seek. — Ps. 27 : 8. 

HEAVENLY FATHER, before entering fully upon 
the duties of this new day, we would bow 
before Thee and join our hearts and our voices in 
prayer. We pray Thee, that Ave may be truly con- 
scious of Thy presence with us as we begin this day. 

Help us to know, in all the work of this day, that 
the still small voice that speaks within us and 
calls us to the best things, is the voice of God; 
that the power that tugs at our hearts is the 
hand of God; and that the light that falls upon our 
pathway, directing us in the right way, is the light 
and the love of our Father, God. So may we walk 
this day with Thee, as Thy Holy Spirit guides us, 
and as we have been taught by Thy Son, our Saviour, 
Jesus Christ the Righteous. 

We give Thee the love and gratitude of our hearts 
for all the blessings we enjoy. Take each one of 
us now, dear Father, into Thy loving care as we go 
forth to the duties of this day. May our lives be a 
benediction and blessing to all who need us. Lead 
us ever, we pray Thee, in the way Thou wouldst 
have us to go, and when the journey is done, gather 
us all home at last; in the name of Jesus Christ. 
Amen. 



Rev. Frank G. Smith, 
Kansas City, Missouri. 



MARCH NINETEENTH 93 



Therefore shall the people praise Thee. — Ps. 45 : 17. 

ALMIGHTY GOD, Heavenly Father, Who art the 
light and life of men, we give Thee humble and 
hearty thanks for all the blessings of Thy merciful 
Providence; and we commend ourselves this day, and 
all who are near and dear to us— our family, our 
friends, our neighbors — to Thy divine care and pro- 
tection. Give us grace so to live that we shall not 
be afraid to die. Save us from all dangers of soul 
and body. Grant us strength for our daily work, 
sufficiency for our daily needs, and a right judg- 
ment in all things. 

We pray for our country, that it may be exalted 
in righteousness; for those who exercise authority, 
that they may be wise and just; for all our citizens, 
that they may be faithful to duty and obedient to 
law; that our land may be a land of liberty and 
peace, of true religion, of mutual service, accept- 
able to Thee, our God, and honored throughout the 
world. 

Finally, we beseech Thee, Father, to protect and 
encourage those, who, by life and doctrine, at home 
and abroad, are proclaiming the Gospel of Thy 
redeeming love. Send out Thy light and Thy 
truth, that all men everywhere may acknowledge them- 
selves to be the sons of God, and that Thy Kingdom 
may be established in all the earth. Through Jesus 
Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Bishop Thomas F. Gailob, D.D., 
Memphis, Tennessee. 



94 MARCH TWENTIETH 



Thou forga-vest the iniquity of my sin. — Ps 32 : 5. 

LORD JESUS, our Redeemer, be Thou ever-present 
with us to-day! Thou as the all-seeing Saviour 
art acquainted with all our ways, nothing is un- 
known to Thee. Thou knowest how sin endangers 
our lives day by day. Thou knowest how tempta- 
tions beset us on all sides. Thou knowest how doubts 
and misgivings fill our heart with distrust. Thou 
knowest how the cares of life make us anxious for 
the morrow and forgetful of Thee and Thy glorious 
promises. 

Lord Jesus, In Thy mercy help us, and grant us 
grace to look up in faith to Thee. Give us strength 
to withstand the many sins and temptations of 
to-day, help us to cast aside all our cares, and trust 
with child-like faith in Thee. 

Above all, Lord Jesus, forgive us where we have 
failed in the past, and let us find in Thee our 
Saviour, whose Life-blood has redeemed us from sin 
and death. Give us faith to believe that, unworthy 
though we be, Thy Blood shed on the cross can save 
us from every sin. 

Fill us, Thy pardoned children, with love to 
Thee and mankind. Keep us faithful in Thy all- 
saving Word unto our end. We ask all this of Thee, 
because Thou art our God and our Redeemer. Amen. 



Rev. Alfred Doerffler, 
St. Louis, Missouri. 



MARCH TWENTY-FIRST 95 



The Lord preserveth the faithful. — Ps. 31 : 23. 

ALMIGHTY and Most Merciful One, we humble 
ourselves before Thee and adore Thy power as 
well as Thy love; Thy bounty, as well as Thy com- 
passion; Thy sovereign providence as well as Thy 
forgiving mercy. Lord, give to us — Thou knowest 
better what to give than we to ask. Direct graciously 
all the affairs of each of us this day; be in the 
performance of the household duties and sanctify 
our home life; go out with those who go out to the 
business of life this day, and prosper their labors and 
their plans. Find some blessed helpfulness for each 
of us to-day, and let us also find it. Encompass 
in like manner with Thy gracious providence all our 
loved ones, in their homes, in preparation for life 
work, in their daily avocations, in their accustomed 
places or on a journey, in sickness or in health. Lift 
our eyes above the narrow little circle of our own 
horizon in life, to the great work of God, and to 
the Kingdom of God, of which we are a part. Lord, 
forgive us our sins; they are many, and they humble 
us to the dust. Guard and guide our ways this day, 
that we may go to meet temptation "led of the 
Spirit," and so shall "find the way of escape" and 
go safely forward in the way of faith and hope and 
loving service of Thee. In" Jesus' Name. Amen. 



Melvin Grove Kyle, D.D., LL.D., 
Philadelphia, Penna. 



96 MARCH TWENTY-SECOND 



The Lord is the strength of my life. — Ps. 27 : 1. 

OUR Gracious Father in Heaven, we accept with 
thankful hearts this most wonderful privilege 
of entering into Thy presence through prayer. A 
new day stretches out before us, and we know not 
what shall befall us ere we come to its close. How 
greatly do we need a strength that is more than 
human. We find ourselves insufficient for the tasks 
of the day. Our vision is so narrow, our judgment 
so faulty, our wisdom so incomplete. We are be- 
coming more and more conscious of our shortcom- 
ings and our failures, and if we recognize them, 
how grievous must they appear in Thy sight. For- 
give us and help us, we pray. Teach us that we 
are most strong when in weakness we 'throw our- 
selves upon Thee. Teach us that we shall enjoy 
the greatest liberty when we are in most complete 
bondage to Thee. Teach us that to lose self is to 
gain power and influence. Help us to-day to be 
good witnesses for Jesus Christ. May our lives ring 
true. May our conduct be in strict accord with 
the profession we make. May it be easier for others 
to do right to-day, because we are in the world. 
Make us strong in the hour of temptation, and give 
us grace for every trying situation that may arise. 
This petition we humbly offer through Jesus Christ 
Our Lord. Amen. 



William S. Aberncthy, D.D., 
Kansas City, Missouri. 



MARCH TWENTY-THIRD 97 



They shall prosper that love Thee. — Ps. 122 : 8. 

OUR Heavenly Father, we would humbly bow before 
Thee and in acknowledgment of Thy goodness 
would confess Thee to be our God. We thank Thee 
for Thy manifold mercies and continued love and care 
to us, so unworthy of any of Thy blessings. 

We confess our sins, and pray that for the sake 
of Christ Thou wouldst forgive us and help us to 
so live that everywhere we may carry the Spirit 
and the life of the Master with us. Grant that we 
may have that purity of heart by which we may be 
always able to see Thee. 

May we see our opportunities every day, and help 
us to use them that we may best minister to our 
fellow men, and bring glory to Thy great and Holy 
Name. Lead us day by day. May we obediently fol- 
low Thee, lovingly doing Thy will, and seek so to 
express the love of Christ that others will be led 
to accept Jesus as Saviour and Lord, while Thy be- 
lieving followers may the better be established in 
the faith. Be gracious to all in sadness and diffi- 
culty. Help them to fully trust in Thee, and realize 
ever Thy presence with them. 

We ask this all in the name of Jesus Christ, Thy 
Son, our Saviour. Amen. 



I. G. Bowles, B.A., B.D., 
North Bay, Out., Canada. 



MARCH TWENTY-FOURTH 



I will give thanks unto Thee forever. — Ps. 30 : 12. 

ETERNAL FATHER, help us to think wise 
thoughts, to speak kind words, and to do good 
deeds through all the hours of this new day of our 
lives. Help us to see things as they are, and also 
as they ought to be. We would have a hand in 
making the world a better place in which to live, 
and, as the nearer duties are the most pressing, we 
would begin at hom-e. To the beloved beings in this 
household, therefore, we will consecrate our ability 
to be cheerful and helpful. Enable us to lift the 
burdens of the weary, and to bring happiness to the 
sorrowful about our own fireside, and then as our 
strength and wisdom are increased, to impart them 
to others, near and far. How full of the possibilities 
of usefulness is a single day! How sweet to think 
that in a single moment of a single hour of this 
one, we may render some service that will increase 
the sum of human virtue and happiness. Help us, 
Lord, to do it! 

Give us a new assurance of Thy love, and a new 
sense of the dignity and value of life. We pray 
Thee that we may be able to say, when our call 
comes, "Glad did I live and glad do I die, and I lay 
me down with a will." Amen. 



Charles Frederic Goss, D.D., 
Cincinnati, Ohio. 



MARCH TWENTY-FIFTH 



99 



The prayer of faith shall save. — James 5 : 15. 

r\ LORD, increase our faith. By it may we be 
^ enabled to remove mountains of difficulty from 
our way. May it be our shield with which to 
quench the darts of temptation. May it steady 
and encourage us as we endeavor to form our 
plans and assume our duties and responsibilities in 
accord with Thy will. May it deliver us from fear- 
ful anxiety respecting our own welfare, and that of 
our loved ones whom we commit to Thy care. Mav 
it incline us to be forgiving and patient and consid- 
erate and sympathetic. May it prompt us to gracious 
and kindly words and deeds. May it save us from 
being too much gratified by praise, and from being 
too much cast down by blame. May it lend zest 
to the day's toil, and quicken us to renewed energy 
and fidelity in our work. May it impel us to 
humility and gratitude when we are granted pros- 
perity and happiness, and may it preserve us against 
bitterness and gloom of spirit if want and sorrow 
become our portion. May it strengthen our hold 
upon possessions that abide, and be unto us the 
evidence of things not seen, and the substance of 
things hoped for. May it assure us each day, as we 
fare on our pilgrimage, that Thou art nigh, and 
lead us into the blessed experience of companying 
with Thee as a man walketh and talketh with a 
friend. Amen. 



Harry P. Dewey, D.D. 
Minneapolis, Minn. 



100 MARCH TWENTY-SIXTH 



Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift. — II Cor. 9 : 15. 

OUR FATHER, we offer Thee our thanks for the 
morning light and for all Thy goodness. We 
confess our faults and failures and sins, and ask 
Thy pardon. Give us a right judgment, that we may 
see what Thou wouldst have us do; a ready will, 
that we may do our duty with all our might; and 
the help of Thy Spirit, that we may be enabled this 
day to live according to Thy will. 

Look with pity upon all who are in any need or 
trouble, and come and help them. Strengthen the 
weak, succor those who are tempted, lift up the 
fallen, lighten the darkness of them that doubt, 
give patience to all who suffer, and to them who 
are disheartened give courage and new interest in life. 

Bless our country, and grant that righteousness, 
peace and good will may prevail among all nations. 
Bless Thy Church throughout the world, especially 
Thy servants who have gone forth to preach Thy 
Gospel in distant" lands. Take under Thy fatherly 
care and protection all who are near and dear to us; 
do more and better for them than we can ask or 
think, and grant that we and they may this day 
enter more and more into Thy joy and peace, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



Bishop Chattncey B. Bbewsteb, d. d., 
Hartford, Conn. 



MARCH TWENTY SEVENTH 101 



I was brought low, and He helped me. — Ps. 31 : 23. 

WE thank Thee, God, that we can call Thee 
Father, for no parent ever loves as deeply as 
Thou. Wte acknowledge with sorrow that we have 
grieved Thee time and again, for even when we 
would do good, evil is present. But, praise God, 
when we sincerely confess our sins, Thou art faith- 
ful to forgive. 

We thank Thee for the daily blessings of life, 
seen and unseen. We thank Thee that Thou art 
mindful of us when we least think, and dost tenderly 
care for us. We pray Thee to write over the door 
of our home, "Peace be unto this household." Help 
us daily to create such an atmosphere in our home 
as will the better tend to bring all up in the nurture 
and admonition of the Lord. 

Keep us from temptation. Make us happy and 
blessed Christians, and help us in all we do, think, 
and say, that we may prove a blessing unto others. 

When sorrow comes into our lives, may we yet 
praise God and trust Him. And if we should be 
imprisoned in grief, may the hand of God open for 
us the iron gate, as when Peter was liberated. And 
when our work is finished, take us to Thyself in 
Heaven, for Jesus' sake. Amen. 



L. M. Zimmerman, D.D., 
Baltimore, Md. 



102 MARCH TWENTY-EIGHTH 

Let those that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee. 
— Ps. 70: 4. 

OUR FATHER in Heaven: We come to Thee 
with our deepest gratitude and love. Thou 
hast been a kind Father and a faithful Friend. We 
thank Thee for daily provision, for care and guid- 
ance and help in business affairs and in our home, 
for those "common mercies" which come to us so 
regularly that we get to receiving them thought- 
lessly and we forget who gives them to us. Most of 
all, we thank Thee that Thou dost love us, that Thy 
pity and compassion are never withheld from us, that 
this day and every day Thy "goodness flows around 
our incompleteness, round our restlessness Thy rest." 
In Thy mercy forgive us. We are so weak and sin 
so easily that we must daily cast ourselves upon 
Thy strength and daily renew our prayer for pardon. 
Make us strong to resist sin and to overcome every 
temptation. All through this day may we be true 
to all that is pure and holy and Christ-like. May 
Thy Kingdom come! Cheer our hearts with new 
displays of Thy saving power, with signs and won- 
ders as of old time, with new miracles of conversion 
and sanctification. We long to see Christ recognized 
and honored by men and by society. Heal our friends 
who are sick. Comfort all who are in sorrow. 
Where heavy burdens are to be borne, give the 
courage and the strength to bear them. And keep 
us all in the love of Jesus, and in conscious fellow- 
ship with Thee. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

W. I. WlSHAET, D.D., 

Pittsburgh, Penna. 



MARCH TWENTY-NINTH 103 



Whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions. 
—I John 5 : 15. 

SHELTERED as we are in the peace of our own 
home, we pray to-day for the homeless and the 
lonely. The wayward souls who have broken away 
and are wandering restless and unsatisfied, may their 
hearts be turned again towards their father's house. 
The children, orphaned and dependent, who miss a 
mother's comforting touch and her good-night kiss, 
may they have a compensation in tender friendliness. 
The men and women in great cities, workers with 
hand or brain, separated by distance from their 
families; may they escape or overcome the tempta- 
tions that surround them. The selfish and the 
cruel who have wrecked their own and others' happi- 
ness; may they be changed to a better mind. For 
all to whom home is only a dream, or a regret, or to 
whom it means remorse; we pray, Thou God of 
infinite compassion, that to each may come a mes- 
sage from Thy love that shall be an impulse to a new 
and higher life. It is Thy will that we be carriers 
of such messages! Then fit us for this service by 
a broader sympathy and a readier helpfulness. 
This we ask in the Xaine of Christ. Amen. 



Rev. A. J. Bonsall, Lnr. D. 
Pittsburgh, Penna. 



104 MARCH THIRTIETH 



He forgetteth not the cry of the humble. — Ps. 9 : 12. 

OUR Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for the 
watch care that was over us while we slept, 
and that Thou hast brought us in health and 
strength to see the light of this new day. But 
we need Thee more in the daylight than we do at 
midnight. Open our eyes to the opportunities and 
privileges of this day. As a servant would come 
to his master in the early morning to receive direc- 
tions for the day, so we come to Thee, seeking divine 
guidance. Strengthen our bodies, clear our heads and 
warm our hearts, that we may live this day in 
accordance with Thy Holy Will, and that we may do 
nothing displeasing in Thy sight. Bless us in our 
home life, that by precept and example we may 
lead our children in the good and right way, and 
help us to make the atmosphere of our households 
so much like Heaven that it will be the natural thing 
for them to grow up in the "nurture and admonition 
of the Lord." Go with us into the larger and 
outer circles of life's relationships, and everywhere 
enable us to help and not to hinder. Bless with us 
all those who cry to Thee for help, and hasten the 
day when all mankind will join in crowning Christ 
"Lord of all." We offer our thanksgivings and ren- 
der our petitions in the Name of Jesus. Amen. 



FOBNEY HUTCHIXSOX, D.D., 

Little Rock, Arkansas. 



MARCH THIRTY-FIRST 105 



Deliver me, for I do not forget Thy la^r. — Ps. 119 : 153. 

OUR Heavenly Father, with gratitude and confi- 
dence we bow together before Thee this morning 
after the rest of the night. We face the day, with 
its untried experiences, in courage and hope, claim- 
ing Thy promise, "I will in no wise fail thee nor 
forsake thee/' We humbly place ourselves at Thy 
merciful disposal; forgive us, protect us, guide us, 
use us, and keep us in the thought of Thee all the 
day. Reveal Thyself to them that are dear to us, 
and lead them into Thy peace. Those who are in 
any temptation, deliver ; or in any sorrow or affliction, 
sustain and comfort; supply every need of theirs, 
according to Thy riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 

Give our rulers, we beseech Thee, wisdom and 
power to administer righteous government; save us 
from the covetous and proud; unite our people in the 
bonds of love, constraining them to justice, and 
mercy, and pity, that those who have may help 
those who have not, that oppression and poverty 
may cease from among us. And may we as a 
nation understand and fulfil our mission to the 
world. 

Spread abroad everywhere the knowledge of Thy 
salvation, and bring in speedily the day of Jesus 
Christ, in Whose Name we ask all. Amen. 



Rev. George Wells Ely, 
Columbia, Penna. 



106 APRIL FIRST 



Come unto Me and I will give you rest. — Matt. 11 : 28. 

OGOD, our Father, and the Father of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, it is written in Thy Word that 
Thy Holy Spirit helpeth our infirmity that we may 
know what we should pray for as we ought; and 
that He maketh intercession for the saints according 
to the will of God. 

We yield ourselves to Thee, our God and Father, 
that Thy Spirit may exercise this grace toward us, 
and work this gift in us just now; that He may 
cleanse our hearts from all iniquity, and lift them 
up in the worship and love of Thy Holy Name; 
that He may comfort us in our trials to-day; that 
He may strengthen us in every moment of tempta- 
tion; that He may guide us in all our ways to do 
Thy will; that He may help us in our toil and en- 
lighten us in our perplexity. 

O Heavenly Father, shed abroad Thy love in our 
hearts and keep us loving, hopeful, patient, kind 
and true, thus blessing all with whom we come in 
contact, and glorifying Thy Great Name Who art 
worthy of all our heart's devotion forever and ever. 

Through Jesus Christ our Saviour, WTio loveth 
us and loosed us from our sins in His own blood. 
Amen. 



James M. Gray, D.D., 

Chicago, Illinois. 



APRIL SECOND 107 



Thy prayers and thine alms are come up before God. 
Acts 10 : 4. 

OUR Father in Heaven, we thank Thee for teach- 
ing us to value this moment of looking up to 
Thee at the commencement of the day — lest we for- 
get the purpose Thou gavest it for. 

We thank Thee that Thou hast placed us in a 
world that needs today what we can give it, and so 
gives dignity and meaning to our transient lives. 

Teach us this day to do the thing that pleases 
Thee, and so through all its difficulties and all its 
disappointments enjoy the peace that passes under- 
standing, that shall make us cheerful at all times. 

We thank Thee for the knowledge of Thy love 
that forgives our sins; may we reflect it today, 
seeing only the best that is in others, that we may 
be kind all the day through. Enable us to "serve" 
and to "give." 

Save us from the selfishness that blinds, and 
from the conceit that cannot walk by faith, and 
enable us so to let our light shine, that men may 
glorify Thee today for having seen us — for Thine is 
the power and the* glory, forever. A men. 



Wilfred Thomasox Gbenfell, M. D., LL.D., 
St. Anthony, N eivfoundland. 



108 APRIL THIRD 



We trust in the living God — the Saviour of all men. 
—a Tim. 4:10. 

OTHOU Who art Life, and the Giver of Life, we 
thank Thee that Thou art also Love, and the 
Author of all our joys and blessings. 

We bless Thee for Thy Word, for Thy Holy Day, 
for the church and for the wondrous sacrifice of our 
Lord in redemption. We rejoice for the privilege 
of prayer, for its fellowship with the Divine, and 
for the assurance that Thou dost hear and answer it. 

We thank Thee for the promise of the Holy Spirit 
to strengthen our poor infirm spirits, to give us 
an internal witness that we are Thy children, and 
to enable us to overcome in all our temptations. 

Help us to '"stand fast in the faith," and to bear 
witness of it to others. Enable us to do good to 
our fellowmen, and to serve Thee by advancing Thy 
Holy Kingdom over all the earth. 

Bless our home; may we here rear an altar of 
worship to Thee, and wilt Thou send down Thy 
Holy Angels to guard our fireside. May peace 
attend all our steps through life, and may we 
at last depart in faith and hope of the life ever- 
lasting. Amen. 



Junius B. Remensnydeb, D.D., LL.D., 
New York City, N. Y. 



APRIL FOURTH 109 



Whoso offereth praise, glorifieth Me. — Ps. 50 : 23. 

OTHOU Infinite Life, from Whom we have come 
forth and in Whom we live and move and have 
our being, Thou Father of our spirits Who art "closer 
to us than breathing; nearer than hands and feet," 
we would begin this new day with a deep sense of 
gratitude to Thee and of reverence for ourselves. 
Make us glad that we are alive, and that we are 
living in a world so full of wonder, of beauty and 
of inspiration. Be Thou the Great Companion of 
our lives this day. May we see Thee in every per- 
son we meet and find Thee in every experience that 
meets us. May we get the very utmost out of this 
day, by putting our very best of mind and heart 
into all its tasks. May our minds be so filled with 
good thoughts, and our hands so busy with kindly 
deeds, that there shall be no room in our lives 
for anything unworthy of ourselves or harmful to 
others. May we find happiness not in seeking it, 
but in bringing happiness to others, especially to 
those who stand closest to us. So may we live this 
day for its own sake, as if it were a life complete 
in itself, and when the day is done, may we fall 
asleep in the consciousness that we have honestly 
tried to share the spirit and follow the example 
of Him Who is the Master of life. In His Name. 
Amen. 



J. H. Randall, D.D., 

Xeio York City, N. Y. 



110 APRIL FIFTH 



We love Him because He first loved us. — I John 4 : 19. 

FOR the restful curtains of the night we thank 
Thee, Gracious God, our Father. Thou didst 
create all things in the earth for man's comfort, 
convenience, and contentment. When we walk with 
Thee every place is garden-like. We thank Thee that 
in Thy presence is fullness of joy. 

We bless Thee for little children. We thank Thee 
for their prattle and laughter, their trust and purity. 
Freshen us with sweetening lessons from their fra- 
grant happiness. Bless the little ones touched by 
our influence. Foreguard against making crooked 
pathways, lest they follow. Enable us to enforce 
all instructions with a flesh-clothed example. De- 
liver us from impatient speech and angry action 
before or to them. Fill our heart with love until 
it overflows, and mellows and moulds the little folk. 
Check arbitrary commands ; hold back harsh penalties. 
May patient tenderness have the mastership in our 
lives. Saturate us with sympathy, grace us with 
gentleness, control us with considerateness, and honor 
us with the beauty of holiness. Give us an obedi- 
ence as prompt and as confident as that of a love- 
led child. Command us until we shall conform 
to the image of our Elder Brother, and so be worthy 
disciples and helpers of humanity everywhere. In 
Jesus' Name. Amen. 



Cheistian F. Reisner, D.D., 
New York City, N. Y. 



APRIL SIXTH 111 



The faithful God which keepeth covenant. — Deut. 7 : 9. 

OUR Heavenly Father, Whose life is within us 
and Whose love is ever about us, make Thy 
life manifest in our lives this day, as with gladness 
of heart, without haste or confusion of thought, we 
go about our daily tasks, conscious of ability to 
meet every rightful demand, seeing the larger mean- 
ing of little things, and finding beauty everywhere. 

In the sense of Thy presence may we move through 
the hours, breathing the atmosphere of love, and seek- 
ing by love, rather than by anxious striving, to 
quicken and bless the lives of others. Knowing that 
we are laborers together with Thee, may we live 
above all the influences that depress and discourage, 
and come into that assurance of faith which is 
itself the victory that overcometh the world. 

And now we would enter into the secret place of 
Thy presence, that, hidden with Thee, our souls may 
be filled with a sense of Thy sheltering care and all 
our energies quickened into newness of life. Lay Thy 
hand of love upon each one of us as in silence we 
seek Thy blessing. 

(A moment of silent prayer.) 

This blessing we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ, 
our Lord. Amen. 



Andrew V. V. Raymond. D.D., LL.D., 

Buffalo, New York. 



112 APRIL SEVENTH 

For the love of Christ constraineth us. — II Cor. 5 : 14. 
My Prayer Today. 



Psalm 51 : 10-12. 
Luke 22 : 39-46. 
Luke 11 : 1-4. 



LORD, search our hearts, and make them clean. 
Renew continually a right spirit within us. Make 
us willing to do Thy will. Teach us how to pray 
and how to work. 

Help us to go where Thou dost send us. Give us 
courage to speak for Thee, and loving patience in 
trying to help others. Bless every member of our 
church and Sunday school. Help us soon to win 
some soul for Thee. Make us to see whom we 
might help, and to be eager to go to them. 

Fill our hearts with deeper and truer love for 
Thee. Forgive our sins, and make us better Chris- 
tians every day. For Jesus' sake. Amen. 



Ernest Bourner Axlen, D.D., 
ToUdo, Ohio. 



APRIL EIGHTH 113 



Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord : 
His going forth is prepared as the morning ; and He shall 
come unto us ars the rain, as the latter and former rain 
unto the earth. — Hosea 6 : 3. 



OGOD, Father, Saviour, and Revealer, sanctify 
all those who in the midst of truth seek more 
truth. As they question the authority of the past, 
increase their loyalty to the things which are eternal. 
May liberty of thought leave unsullied the simplicity 
of their trust in Thee. As the steep ascent of truth 
reveals the ever-widening horizon of Thy thought, 
lead them in the narrow path of humble and sacri- 
ficial service. Enable them to share the joy of 
their emancipation without weakening other men's 
faith in the God of their own experience. May pride 
of learning never chill the warmth of prayer. May 
opposition and misinterpretation arouse within them 
no bitterness or plans for retaliation. As by Thy 
grace they are led into deeper sympathy with their 
Lord, may they give to the world their new assur- 
ance of the triumph of His Kingdom, rather than 
the agony of their struggle with doubt. And ever 
amid the clash of argument may they find the peace 
that passeth understanding in Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 



Shailer Mathews, D.D., 
Chicago, Illinois. 



114 APRIL NINTH 



God is faithful by Whom you were called. — I Cor. 1 : 9. 

OUR FATHER, Who art in Heaven, Thou hast 
graciously answered our petition for safe keep- 
ing through the darkness and dangers of another 
night. For these mercies we now thank Thee, Father, 
and lift our refreshed hearts and minds to Thee in 
thanksgiving, and in an appeal for guidance as we 
start out into the duties and privileges of a new 
and unknown day. Graciously cause Thy Holy Spirit 
to dwell in us richly, and to make real unto us a 
Father's omniscience, love and power. Help Thou 
us to realize what it really is to have the very 
hairs of our head all numbered. Show us anew the 
deep concern of the Good Shepherd as He feedeth 
His flock and nourisheth it for the Father's service. 
Cause Thy Kingdom to come, and Thy will to be 
done in and through us each moment of the day. 
Bring to our remembrance, Oh Spirit of God, such por- 
tions of the Divine Word as will give us the vision, 
the inspiration, and the faithfulness that will make 
us profitable — profitable to Thee by being helpful 
to those about us in real need of the knowledge of a 
Saviour's love and grace. These favors, together 
with the forgiveness of our own sins, we ask in 
the Name of Jesus — Thy Son and our Saviour. Amen. 



S. J. McDowell, D.D., 
Baltimore, Md. 



APRIL TENTH 115 



Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children: And 
walk m love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given 
himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a 
sweet-smelling savour. — Ephes 5:1-2 



o 



UR FATHER, Who dost so deeply care about 
all that we have to do this day, help us to do 
everything as in Thy sight. Make us faithful in 
all our work, and help us always to do our best. 
May we be ashamed to shirk or neglect any task 
that is set before us to-day, at home, in business, or 
at school, and may we have Thy guidance as we 
face it. In all our work and play, help us to be 
fair and honest, considerate of our mates, and even 
more anxious to play squarely and well than to 
win. Keep us thoughtful of others and friendly 
toward them. Guard us from the quick word, the 
unworthy thought, the selfish deed. Bind us more 
firmly to our dear ones and our friends this day, and 
to Thee, the Friend that sticketh closer than a 
brother. So bring us to the end of the day wiser 
and stronger, and more able to serve Thee better 
to-morrow. In Jesus' Name. Amen. 



Charles W. Gilkey, D.D., 
Chicago, III. 



116 APRIL ELEVENTH 



For the Father Himself loveth you. — John 17 : 2V. 

OUR Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for the 
peace, the rest, the comfort of the night through 
which we have come. We surely have reason to be 
grateful for Thy increasing care. Thou art ever 
thinking of us, and we sleep in safety under the 
shadow of Thy protecting presence. Now we enter 
upon the light and blessing of another day. May 
it be a clean day, a glad day, an undefiled day! 
May no dark, impure thoughts obtain possession of 
our hearts! May we have the grace to put away 
everything that is sinful and selfish and unworthy 
of Thee! Enable us to overcome every form of 
temptation. If moments of weakness, or weariness, 
or doubt come to us, may we have gracious help 
from Thee. In our business life, our home life, 
with our associates, with our friends, may we be 
thoughtful, tender, loving, generous, ever bearing 
in mind that we are to have the Spirit of our 
Divine Master "Who went about doing good." Teach 
us to be pitiful, to be kindly affectioned, to speak 
words of gentleness, and to remember especially the 
poor, the wayward, the unfortunate, the sorrow- 
stricken. So fill us with Thy Spirit as to make 
us joyous, radiant, eager for service, anxious only 
to do Thy Will. We ask all these favors in the 
Name of Thy Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. 



Bev. J. Wesley Johnstox, Litt. D. 
Brooklyn, Xew York. 



APRIL TWELFTH 117 



Thou Lord art good and ready to forgive. — Ps. 86 : 5. 

OUR FATHER Who art in Heaven, we come before 
Thee in the Name of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our 
Lord and Saviour. For His sake bow Thine ear and 
hear our prayer. We bring Thee our offering of 
thanksgiving for all Thy loving kindness and tender 
mercy toward us. Thy goodness has never failed 
us. We humbly pray for the forgiveness of our 
sins. We confess that in many things we have 
offended and come short of Thy Holy Will. But 
there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be 
feared. Deliver us from the power of evil. Let 
not any sin have dominion over us. Shield us from 
all that would hurt us in body or spirit. Order 
our future, make our plans, choose our changes. 
Suffer us not to live selfish or useless lives. May 
we do good as we have opportunity, and serve our 
generation according to Thy Will. We commend to 
Thy fatherly care our loved ones who are absent 
from us in the flesh. Protect them from evil, and do 
them all the good that they need, both for this life 
and for that which is to come. We pray for the 
coming of Thy Kingdom ! Pour out Thy Holy Spirit 
upon all Thy churches. May they bear faithful 
witness for Thee, and through their testimony may 
multitudes be brought to know Thee, and accept 
Thy great salvation. We humbly ask all in the 
Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

John F. Cannon, D.D., 
St. Louis, Missouri. 



118 APRIL THIRTEENTH 



Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land. 
— Ps. 101 : 6. 

ALMIGHTY GOD, our Heavenly Father, in Whom 
we live and move and have our being, we. 
Thine unworthy children, come to Thee with humble 
minds and hearts to offer our prayer and thanks- 
giving. Pardon, we beseech Thee, the sins we have 
committed against Thee in thought, word and deed, 
and make us truly sorry for them with the godly 
sorrow that worketh repentance unto Salvation. 

Bless us and our relations, friends and neighbors, 
and give us all things necessary both for soul anJ 
body. May Thy Holy Spirit guide Thy church, and 
all who minister therein, that Thy Kingdom may 
come, and all may do their duty in their vocation 
and ministry. 

Have pity on the sick and dying, and on all 
sinners. May Thy Holy Angels dwell vrithin this 
place to preserve us in peace. Into Thy hands, 
God, we commend our bodies, souls,' and spirits. May 
we enjoy such refreshing sleep as will fit us on 
the morrow to go forth to our duties and responsi- 
bilities with vigor of mind and body. Our Heavenly 
Father, we thank Thee for all Thy many and great 
blessings and mercies to us and to all mankind. 

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who with the 
Father and the Hnly Ghost livest and reignest, 
ever one God, world without end. Amen. 

Bishop Ha rry S. Lo^gley, 
Des Moines, Iowa. 



APRIL FOURTEENTH 119 



.ust shall . ittftL — Hab. - 

GRACIOUS and most merciful Father, we 
to Thee in His hallowed Name Who loved us 
and gave Himself for Of nfc Thee that Thou 

didst guard our home and keep us in safety while 

~pt. We thank Thee for the promises of Thy 
Wind, and for the assurance of their fulfilment to all 
who trust and obey TV Hunk Thee for all 

the blessi: _• ■ - i-ortunity and service which have 

come to us with the morning. Help us to be faith- 
ful to Thy Word in all duty and opportunity, and 

e kind to all in word and service. In every 
task or trial, may Thy presence at: 
obedience to Thy will our ioy. Help us in all things 
to follow the example of our Lord, and thus to 
become like Him. Help us to be kind to the poor, 
and to all in need. Give comfort and healing to the 
sick, to the tired and lonely everywhere, and help 
them to look to Him whence cometh help. Come 
to the sinful in gracious con nd bless every 

effort to win them to Thyself. Remember our pas- 
tor, and all who preach the Gospel in our own and 
in heathen lands. Put away the hurt of the sinful 
and the erring everywhere, and hasten the coming 
and triumph of our Lord, And to Tny Name. Father, 

tad Holy Spirit, be all the praise. Amen. 



M. Rhodes, D.D.. 

" MMC. Mo. 



120 APRIL FIFTEENTH 



Thou answeredst them, Lord our God. — Ps. 99 : 8. 

OUR Heavenly Father, we bow before Thee to 
thank Thee this morning for Thy mercy and 
love that has brought us again into Thy holy 
presence. 

We have sinned. Wilt Thou forgive us? 

We thank Thee for the food Thou hast given us. 
Wilt Thou also feed our souls with that bread that 
cometh down from Heaven. We bless Thee for our 
home. We are thankful for our loved ones. As 
Thou art present with us here, wilt Thou also abide 
with those who are bound to us by kindred ties, 
but are separated from us by distance. We thank 
Thee for our friends and neighbors, and ask a bless- 
ing on them. We thank Thee for the church, and its 
influence. Give it spiritual power for its tasks in 
this community and in all the land. 

Supply Thy limitless grace to the missionaries 
who in answer to prayer, Thou hast thrust into the 
dark places of the earth. May their message be so 
used by the Holy Spirit, that Thou, Oh Christ, may 
be known in all the world, and the coming of Thy 
Kingdom may be hastened! 

We ask this, our Heavenly Father, in the Name 
of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus. Amen. 



George Innes, 

Philadelphia, Penna. 



APRIL SIXTEENTH 121 



So will we sing and praise Thy power. — Ps. 21 : 13. 

OUR Divine Father, Who in holy love hast created 
and art sustaining us, Thy children, we invoke 
Thy gracious blessing upon us at the threshold of 
this day. Bless Thou us in our going out and our 
coming in. May our lives be precious in Thy sight. 
Fill our hearts with love, and our minds with all 
high and worthy purposes. In our vocations assist 
us to see the divinity of labor, the expansive power 
of sympathy, the eternal might of righteousness and 
integrity. May we do good to all men as we have 
opportunity. 

Prompt us to the relief of suffering; fill us with 
pity for the needy; gird us with might to oppose 
the aggressions of evil men; supply unto us cour- 
age to bear adversity and pain. Establish Thou the 
labors of our hands and hearts upon us. Encourage 
us to defeat temptation. Bring us from toil to 
our firesides in tranquility, and bathe us with the 
peace which floweth like a river, even that which 
the world cannot supply. 

Teach us how greatly to live and greatly to love, 
and at the evening time of life may there be light. 
In that hour may we be worthy to stand before 
Thee and before the Son of Man, in whose name we 
seek from Thee these benefits. Amen. 



Clarence M. Gallup, D.D., 
Providence, R. 1. 



122 APRIL SEVENTEENTH 



Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. — Ps. 145 :3. 

WE rejoice, gracious Lord, that Thou art willing 
to hear Thy children call upon Thee. No 
earthly ruler is as open to his subjects as Thou art 
to us. 

From any place, not merely from a temple or a 
church; at any time, not only upon sacred days set 
apart for Thy worship; with any need or desire, 
Thou dost bid us open our hearts to Thee, and never 
dost Thou send us away without an answer. 

Therefore, made bold by Thy promise and by our 
own experience of Thy blessings, we come to Thee 
once again. We praise Thee for Thy mercies, so 
great and numberless. We beseech Thee, O Lord, to 
forgive our sins, for Thou delightest to pardon; 
whether sins of wrong-doing, of evil passion, or 
of duties left undone. Forgive them all, we pray, 
and stamp the assurance of pardon,, of peace, and of 
acceptance upon our hearts. 

Bless us in making us more like Thyself, conformed 
to the image of Thy Son. Stand beside us in the 
hour of temptation to give us victory, and at last 
bring us to Thyself, to dwell with Thee forever. 
Amen. 



Jesse L. Hublbut, D.D. 
Newark, New Jersey. 



APRIL EIGHTEENTH 123 



He will love thee and bless thee. — Deut. 7 : 13. 

OUR Heavenly Father, Thou hast been good to us, 
and we come to Thee in love and gratitude to 
thank Thee for the right use of our minds, for health 
of body, and for opportunities of development and ser- 
vice. Help us to show our gratitude by the obedience 
of our lives. May we labor in joy and trust, by 
Thy grace, to make this world a brighter, happier, 
and better place for men and women to live, and 
for children to play and grow. May all fathers and 
mothers have a sacred sense of privilege and respon- 
sibility, and may the God of all grace be merciful 
to the multitudes of mothers and fathers, brothers 
and sisters, wives and little children, who suffer 
from the curse of strong drink. Lord, destroy that 
which would destroy those for whom Christ died. 
Keep all little children, all boys and girls, all young 
men and women, unscarred and unstained by sin, 
and remember in great tenderness the aged, the lonely, 
the sick, the tempted, the discouraged, and those who 
suffer for the sins of others. May joy and peace and 
harmony and holiness alone reign in our hearts. Bind 
us closer to each other, and closer to Thee. Help us 
to be happy, and useful, and good. 

These things, with the forgiveness of sin and the 
baptism of the Holy Spirit, we ask in the Name of 
the Blessed Christ, Who loved us and gave Himself 
for us. We can ask nothing more ; we dare ask nothing 
less. Amen. 

Prof. Chart.es Scanlon, A.M., 
Pittsburgh, Penna. 



124 APRIL NINETEENTH 



Let the people praise Thee, O God ; let all the people 
praise Thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase ; and 
God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless 
us ; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him. — 
Ps. 67:5-7. 



OUR FATHER in Heaven, we thank Thee for this 
day and all its opportunities. Help us to show 
our gratitude by the use we make of it. May Jesus 
Christ so dwell in our hearts that we shall be kept 
from sin. Wilt Thou rule and bless our home this 
day. We pray Thy blessing on friends and neighbors. 
May we so live before them that we may honor Thy 
Name. Bless, we pray, the poor and sick and suffer- 
ing. May their need be to us a call to service. 

We pray for Thy blessing on our church. May we 
strive to win men to Jesus Christ. We pray for 
town and state and country, that righteousness may 
prevail. We pray that the Gospel message may 
speedily go into all the world; that wars may cease; 
that sin and greed may no longer rule. To this 
end may we give as Thou hast blessed us. May the 
peace of God dwell in our hearts this day. We ask 
it all in the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen. 



Roger Lkavttt, 
Cedar Falls, Towa. 



APRIL TWENTIETH 125 



He hath set His lave upon me. — Ps. 91 : 14. 

THOU God of our fathers — our Father which art 
in Heaven, Thou art good to all, and Thy tender 
mercies are over all Thy works. We thank Thee for 
the night and for the day; for quietness and rest 
and sleep, for life and light and love. We confess 
that we sin against Thee even in our lying down 
and rising up. We shield ourselves in Thy Father- 
hood, and believe that for Christ's sake Thou dost 
forgive our sins. We commit ourselves to Thy 
covenant keeping for this day. Give Thine angels 
charge over us, and keep each one of us from 
harm. Guide us with Thine eye. Preserve our 
going out and our coming in. Keep us in health 
and safety in body and soul. Help us to live 
together in peace and love. Give us rule over our 
own spirits. Fit us for all Thou hast appointed to 
us, that we hear and do Thy holy will. May our 
Elder Brother walk with us all the way, and may 
His presence help and comfort us. 

Bless our friends and neighbors, and all whom 
we love, especially those who may be sick or in any 
trouble. Comfort and speedily relieve them. Be 
with the great multitude that "go out this morning 
to toil and weariness, and give them good cheer 
and rest, and the salvation that is of Thee. For 
Christ's sake. Amen. 



Wallace Radcliffe, D.D., LL.D., 
Washington, D. C. 



126 APRIL TWENTY-FIRST 



One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek 
after. — <Ps. 27 : 4. 

WE need Thee, loving God. We are lonesome, 
discontented, helpless, defeated, without Thee. 
How shall we know ourselves aright unless Thou 
teach us? How shall we love goodness and strive 
after holiness, and know the deep joys of the soul 
unless Thy Spirit abide in us? How shall we be 
able to meet Thy just expectations unless we com- 
panion with the Most High God? How shall we bear 
our burdens and overcome our temptations, or be 
unselfish in service, or turn away from our sins, 
or grow into the beauty and majesty of the charac- 
ter of Christ, unless Thou take possession of us? 

Thankful we are, then, that Thou dost not with- 
hold Thyself from any eager, hungry, obedient heart. 
We know that Thou art willing to give Thyself to us. 
Teach us how to open our natures to Thee. Help 
us to be obedient to Thy will, joyous in our 
allegiance, co-operative in all of Thy plans. 

Disturb us when we go astray; discipline us when 
we are wilful; hearten us when discouraged; 
strengthen us when perplexed. 

Through all the experiences of our lives, fashion 
us into the likeness of our exalted Christ, so that 
we may be Thy true sons and daughters. Amen. 



Philip L. Fbick, Ph.D., 
Buffalo, New York. 



APRIL TWENTY-SECOND 127 



My lips shall utter praise. — Ps. 119 : 171. 



OUR Heavenly Father, help us to be thankful for 
our home with all of its blessings and privi- 
leges. Give each of us eyes to see, and grace and 
strength for the duties and privileges that are ours. 
Help us to be home-lovers and home-makers. Grant 
that we may bless every home coming within the 
radius of our influence. 

Give us the eye of pity and the hand of help for 
all whose needs have claims upon us. Save us 
from "the snare of the fowler" and from pestilence, 
that we may in purity and strength serve Thee. 

Bless our church — Thy church— -O, our God, and 
him who ministers to us in spiritual things, and Thy 
servants the world over. May our religion be real 
and satisfying to us, and appetizing to others. Let 
our love to Thee be voiced in our efforts, gifts, and 
prayers, in behalf of a lost world. 

Help us to live in constant readiness for whatever 
Thy providence hath in store for us, and to say 
ever in word, thought and deed, "Thy Kingdom come, 
Thy will be done in earth as it is Heaven." Amen. 



Rev. M. P. Hunt, 
Fayetteville, Ark. 



128 APR I L TWENTY-TH I RD 



Casting all your care upon Him ; for He careth for you. 
— I Peter 5 :7. 

OUR FATHER, we know not what a day may bring 
forth, but our help is in Thee. We thank Thee 
for Thy promised watchfulness. And so we pray 
for a faith that will send us forth trusting ourselves 
to Him Who neither slumbers nor sleeps. 

Keep us, we pray Thee, true to our responsibilities 
as followers of Thy Son, Jesus Christ. As we, day 
by day, succeed in making a living, may we not fail 
in making a life. We would learn of Him Who 
intermingled heaven's glory with earth's common 
toil. Our tasks are too often made heavy through 
our forgetfulness of Thee. 

May we so hunger and thirst after righteousness 
as to enter into the full assurance of Thy protection 
and help, and thus when other voices entice us, say- 
ing, "All these things will I give Thee if Thou wilt 
fall down and worship me," may we find our refuge 
in Thee, and hear Thee say, "The Lord shall preserve 
Thee from all evil: He shall preserve Thy soul."' 

May our hearts be freed from fret and care this 
day, and may the peace of God which passeth all 
understanding be ours from this time forth, and even 
forevermore. Amen. 



Rev. F. A. Robinson, B.A.. 
Toronto, Ont. y Canada. 



APRIL TWENTY-FOURTH 129 



Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. — >Ps. 37 : 7. 



H 



OLY FATHER, we thank Thee for the gift of 
life, the gift of reason, the gift of love. We 
are little, but Thou art great; yet it is great to be 
but little for Thee. 

With single span Thou measurest the heavens Thou 
hast made, but Thine whole arm Thou takest to bear 
one lamb. We are confident of Thy love; grant us 
faith, forgiveness, and Thy Spirit of power, that our 
assurance may be based on Thee. 

Give us this day a sound mind in a sound body, 
health, knowledge and wisdom grant us, self-con- 
trol, and a right attitude to Thee, to all men, and 
to all things good. Help us to know that the 
majestic deed is the deed of service. May we do 
kind, brave, beautiful things not to be seen, but 
to be serviceable. May we not be seeking to do 
great things, but to do simple things greatly. Help 
us know our Saviour-friend, Who bears the other end 
of the yoke, and makes the burden light. Let us 
find our happiness in our service. Comfort us in 
believing that angels of sorrow always heal the 
wounds they make. Give us noble aspirations, and 
pure satisfactions. In Thy wisdom and power, help 
us. Amen. 



Peof. M. Coover, D.D. 

Gettysburg, Penna. 



130 APRIL TWENTY-FIFTH 



Thou art my God, arid I will praise Thee. — Ps. 118 : 28. 

OUR FATHER! We thank Thee for the tenderness 
enwrapped in the very name by which Thou art 
known to us. If Thou art a Father, then we are 
little children. Grant to us this day the filial heart, 
and help us ever to trust all Thy good ways with us. 
We do not even know our wants, and sometimes 
we ask for stones, mistaking them for bread. Help 
us henceforth, we pray Thee, to trust ourselves to 
Thee, O Lord! to Thy wise counsel and Thy Father 
heart, and to accept with gladness whatever Thou 
dost give, because we are sure that Thy gifts are 
always best. Keep our souls, we pray Thee, in the 
peaceful faith that all things work together for our 
good. 

Let our words be true this day, we pray, and 
let our deeds be upright. Give to us a heart for 
all conditions of men, and soften our spirits with 
the sympathies of Jesus. And if, in the secret re- 
cesses of our souls, there yet lurk some remnants 
of our hated sin, let the tides of forgiveness descend 
upon us from the heights of Thy holiness, and lo! 
we shall be clean. All this we know is according 
to Thy will, through Jesus Christ our Lord. And 
to Thee shall be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 



A. H. Chtpman Moese, D.D., 

Denver, Colo. 



APRIL TWENTY-SIXTH 131 



If thou seek Him, He will be found of thee. — I Chr. 28 : 9. 

OTHOU Who art Infinite Wisdom, we, Thy short- 
sighted children, desire Thy guidance through- 
out this day. 

We know not what of joy or sorrow it may hold 
for us, but we believe Thy grace to be sufficient 
for its needs, and so we pTay that we may appreciate 
and appropriate that grace so freely given. If sor- 
row be our lot, let that grace comfort us and make 
us strong to bear it. If joy be ours, let that grace 
keep us in_ humbleness and dependence upon Thee. 

In the midst of the uncertainties among which we 
must make our way, hold us by the hand and keep 
us in Thy paths. Help us to put down that desire 
we so frequently find taking possession of us, to 
make explorations here and there, beyond the bound- 
aries Thou hast marked off, and to be content to 
follow Thee in paths that are safe. 

We are depending upon Thee. Thou hast never 
failed us in the past, and we trust Thee for this day. 
W T e do not know the way, but it is plain to Thee. 
Guide us safely, through Him Who has loved us 
and given Himself for us. Amen. 



J. Stewaet Fbench, D.D. 
Bristol, Tenn. 



132 APRIL TWENTY-SEVENTH 



Let the people praise Thee, O God. — Ps. 67 : 3. 

BLESSED GOD, this day uphold us by Thy 
gracious omnipotent Hand. Give to us what- 
ever measure of blessing seems best in Thy sight, 
and if disappointment or difficulty of any kind 
awaits us, help us to brace ourselves and play the 
part of a man, and cause us not to forget that our 
sorest trials are ofttimes blessings in disguise. So 
may we always give thanks, being persuaded that 
if we love Thee, all things work together for our 
good. 

Give us at all times holy ideals, O God, and may 
our daily endeavor be commensurate with them. 
That which is dark within us, do Thou illumine by 
Thy Holy Spirit, and cleanse us from all unrighteous- 
ness. May we be truly penitent for our sins, and 
may we be strengthened with might in the inner 
man to do Thy blessed will. Let not this day's low 
descending sun be unprivileged to shine upon some 
small deed of kindness done, or some spoken word 
of Christian love. May those with whom we walk 
and commune along life's way take knowledge that 
we have been with Jesus Christ, and may this day's 
life and every other day which in Thy goodness Thou 
art yet to vouchsafe unto us, make us increasingly fit 
for the endless and the perfect day through which we 
are to live in Thy presence. 

For Christ's sake. Amen. 



William E. Biedebwolf, D.D., 
Chicago, Illinois. 



APRIL TWENTY-EIGHTH 133 



Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing 
give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus 
concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not 
prophesyings. Prove all things; hold, fast that which 
is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the 
very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God 
your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless 
k^-Pa o^ e comiQ S of our Lord Jesus Christ — I Thees. 
o ; 16-2o. 

/CREATE in us a clean heart, O God; and renew 
V-* a right spirit within us. Cast us not away 
from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit 
from us. We commend to Thy loving protection all 
those for whom we long to pray (especially those 
whom we now name in our hearts before Ihee * * *). 
Give to them all their heart's desire, we pray Thee* 
in as far as Thou seest it best, for Jesus' sake! 
Bring each of us, O Father, to the close of this day 
in peace and honor. For all those who love us so 
much better than we deserve, we thank Thee. For 
their sakes, help us to sanctify ourselves this day. 
And do Thou, O Lord, grant that we may abide 
steadfast in this purpose, and by Thy continual aid 
be fully master of all the desires and emotions of 
our hearts. For Jesus' sake. Amen. 



Rev. John Edgar Park, 
West Neioton, Mass. 



134 APRIL TWENTY-NINTH 

My prayer is unto Thee, O I/ord. — Ps. 59 : 13. 

OGOD, our Father, give us Thy blessing in these 
moments of spiritual communion with Thee. 
We come before Thee in a deep sense of our 
own unworthiness. We have sinned in thought 
and word and deed. Yet hear us, as we turn 
to Thee again with penitent hearts. Forgive us 
our sins; grant us again Thy peace. And give 
us grace to serve Thee in newness of life, to 
the glory of Thy Holy Name. We thank Thee for 
Thy constant goodness; for the bounty which has 
supplied our wants; for the providence which has 
kept us from harm; for the love which has redeemed 
us from sin; for the grace which has helped us to 
serve Thee on earth; and for the promise of an 
inheritance in Heaven. 

Keep us from the evil in ourselves; from the evil 
in the world about us; from all selfish, unkind, and 
impure thoughts; from all hard and bitter words; 
from doing that which we ought not to do, and 
from leaving undone that which we ought to do. 
Keep us in the constant sense of our membership in 
Christ; in the thought that we are His disciples 
and followers; in the love of our Father's house, 
and in the hope of our eternal home. We ask all 
in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Compiled and adapted by permission from A Book of 
Common Order, in use at St. Giles' Church, Edinburgh, 
Scotland. 

Bishop Boyd Vincent, D.D., 

Cincinnati, Ohio. 



APRIL THIRTIETH 135 



0, sing unto the Lord a new song ; for He hath done 
marvellous things : His right hand, and His holy arm. 
hath gotten Him the victory. — Ps. 98 : 1. 

OUR kind Heavenly Father, it would be presump- 
tion for us to thus address Thee were it not 
for the cross upon which the Prince of Life opened 
the way. In His dear Name we come, confessing 
our sins, which are too numerous for us to mention, 
and too grievous for us to understand; and seeking 
Thy gracious forgiveness and Thy Spirit's power in 
our full restoration to Thy rich favor. 

As we attempt in our weakness to lift our eyes to 
the celestial sources of righteousness, may Thy 
merciful providences protect our vision from the 
influence of the flesh, the allurements of the world, 
and the illusions of the wicked one. 

In all our thoughts, words, plans, impulses, and 
associations let Thy gracious Spirit have control, 
that when the day is ended, the memories that would 
otherwise bring remorse and bitter regret, may be 
sanctified by a calm and holy peace. 

iSanctify the world with Thy truth. Lead all 
human genius with Thy light. Center and keep the 
affections of men upon Jesus Christ, our Saviour, that 
the strength of nations may be set in alignment with 
the issues of His Kingdom, to Whom we gladly 
ascribe glory, majesty, and power, for evermore. 
Amen. 



William E. Ceouser, D.D., 
San Jose, California. 



136 MAY FIRST 



We thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious Name. 
—I Chr. 29 : 13. 

OUR FATHER Who art in Heaven, we are Thy 
children, created in Thy image, redeemed by the 
blood of Thy Son, and dependent on Thy grace for 
all that we enjoy. Our health, our happiness, our 
food, our clothing, and many other good gifts are 
the evidence of Thy gracious care, and we pray that 
we may have grace and strength to honor Thee for 
what Thou hast done for us, by loving one another, 
and doing good unto all men, as we have opportunity. 
Come Thou, blessed Saviour, and dwell within us 
by Thy Spirit, and teach us in all things to do 
Thy will. We have often been forgetful of Thee, and 
disobedient to Thy commands, and we pray that our 
sins may all be forgiven for Thine own Name's sake. 
As we enter upon each new day, remind us of the 
fact that we can only hope to attain to the best suc- 
cess by Thy favor and blessing, and we would seek 
to make ourselves worthy of these, by so performing 
the common tasks of life, as to honor Thy Name. 
If we have difficult duties to perform, or dangerous 
temptations to meet, help us to realize that our 
sufficiency is in Christ, and that all things are pos- 
sible to him that believeth. 

And all we ask is in the Name of Christ, our 
Saviour. Amen. 

W. B. Smiley, D.D., 
Oneonta, N. T. 



MAY SECOND 137 



Knock and it shall be opened unto you. — Luke 11 : 9. 

OUR FATHER Who art in Heaven, help us to 
start this new day with Thee. May its tirst 
moments be laid on Thy altar, and may the dew 
of refreshing sleep irradiate the sacrilice. Thou hast 
taught us that prayer is incense; may the fragrance 
of our morning petition be detected in Thy holy place. 
The path that leads to sunset is unknown. There 
may be swollen streams, dangerous ravines, dense 
thickets, and unseen foes on Thy plan for this day. 
Clouds may darken the sky which laughed at sun- 
rise, and noon on our journey may witness a severe 
moral struggle. We would choose to walk where the 
flowers bloom, the birds sing, the brook ripples, and 
clouds vanish into thin air. But our choices we 
would submit to Thine approval, for we covet Thy 
presence when the darkness falls. In loving, gener- 
ous, and prompt obedience to Thy will may we find 
a new zest in our waking hours. May new vistas of 
beauty and new visions of service stir our hearts. 
May souls where our path winds be glad that we 
travelled their way. And when the stars shine out, 
invisible by day, may they beckon the best that is 
in us to worship at the Throne of Him Who has 
promised to make wise souls to shine as the stars. 
We proffer our petition in the Xame of Him Who 
taught us to pray. Amen! 



Rev. James E. Noeceoss, 
Pittsburgh, Penna. 



138 MAY THIRD 

For we know that all things work together for good. — 
Romans 8 : 28. 

OLOKD, how slow we are to recognize Thee 
when Thou comest in disguise! We know Thee 
when Thou comest in robes of light, but not when 
Thou art clothed in clouds. Help us to learn Thy 
ways, and to thank Thee for all that Thou doest. 
We would thank Thee when Thou puttest us 
into the fires of affliction, knowing that there 
Thou revealed Thyself as the gracious Sanctifier 
and great Deliverer. How often Thou hast 
come to us in lowly ways, and we have not seen Thee 
because we did not expect to see Thee there. Some- 
times Thou comest to us in heaven's glowing chariots, 
and we do not mistake Thee then; but more often 
Thou comest through earth's common places, and like 
Mary, we suppose Thee to be the Gardener and not 
the Lord. But, O, may we, as she, enquire of the 
gardener about Him Whom, we love, and Thou mayest 
reveal Thyself to us as Thou didst to her. Thou 
hast been doing for each ot us all that Thou didst 
for Thy saints of old, but the blight of unbelief has 
been upon us, and that which Thou didst design for 
blessing has been a curse. O, Lord, forgive ! O Lord, 
forget! O Lord, prevent! To Thy wounds we flee, 
and in Thy merits we hide. Wilt Thou Who hast 
given us life give us also spiritual sensibility, hear- 
ing, and sight, and taste for all that is divine. And 
now unto Thee, Father, Son, and Spirit, be glory 
and praise. Amen. 

Rev. W. Graham Scboggie, 
Sunderland, England. 



MAY FOURTH 139 



The Lord is my light and my salvation. — Ps. 27 : 1. 



OUR Heavenly Father, Thine we are, and Thee 
we desire to serve. We thank Thee that Thou 
hast made us Thine in Christ. 

We thank Thee also that Thou hast made it our 
privilege to serve Thee. Help us, we pray, to serve 
Thee this day — each in the sphere and under the 
conditions in which Thy providence has placed us. 
May each of us let our light shine for Thee just 
where we are. May the same mind be in each of 
us that was in Christ Jesus, our Lord, Who, though 
He was Lord of all, yet pleased not Himself. 

Make us strong to do the right and to resist the 
wrong. Give us filial love for and confidence in 
Thee. Give us a spirit of brotherly interest and 
kindness towards our fellowmen. Incline us, as we 
have opportunity, to do good to all men, especially 
to them that are of the household of faith. 

Forgive our sins, and grant that we may more 
and more die unto sin and live unto righteousness. 
Bless to us the discipline of life. May we be more 
concerned to profit by that discipline than to escape 
its pain. For Jesus' sake. Amen. 



W. M. McPheetebs, D.D., 
Columbia, S. C. 



140 MAY FIFTH 



Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to 
the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should 
let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was 
stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received 
a just recompense of reward ; How shall we escape, if we 
neglect so great salvation ;\ which at the first began to be 
spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them 
that heard him. — Hebrews 2 : 1-3. 



OUR Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for all the 
gifts that come from Thy liberal hand; for 
life, and health, and friends, and home. We thank 
Thee for Thy protection and care while we slept; 
and for the new morning with its call to work; for 
the food and raiment so freely provided, and for the 
shelter and peace of this house. Guide and direct us 
this day in all we do, that we may do Thy will in 
all our relationships with other people. Help us to 
be patient, faithful, considerate, and kind, and may 
we not be drawn into temptation and sin. Be 
with all our absent dear ones, and may their lives 
and health be precious in Thy sight. May Thy 
Kingdom come in all the earth, so that all men 
may be brothers. We ask in the Name of Jesus 
Christ, our Lord. Amen. 



Dan Freeman Bradley, A.B., D.D., 
Cleveland, Ohio. 



MAY SIXTH 141 



The Hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek 
Him. — Ezra 8 : 22. 

N the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy 
Ghost, Amen. 

We thank Thee, blessed Lord, for the loving care 
which has guarded us through the watches of the 
night, bringing us safely to the light of another 
morning. Fill our hearts with gratitude, which we 
would express "not only with our lips, but in our 
lives, by giving up ourselves to Thy service." May 
we appreciate all the blessings of this life — our health, 
reason, and love of those who are about us, and 
above all, may we be grateful for Thy love. 

Send Thy blessing upon our dear ones, wherever 
they may be; keep them from accident of body, and 
sin of soul. Be merciful to the sick, the sorrowing, 
and the dying, and grant to them the "peace which 
passeth understanding." We pray Thee, send bene- 
dictions upon Thy church; grant that Thy Kingdom 
may be enlarged, and Thy people inspired to earnest 
duty. 

And now we commend ourselves unto Thee; may 
the angels of God watch over us this day; keep us 
in our going out and our coming in; preserve us 
from all evil; sanctify us by Thy Spirit dwelling in 
us, and save us at last for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. 



Bishop William Andbew Leonard, D.D., 
Cleveland, Ohio. 



142 MAY SEVENTH 



Let us lay aside .... the sin which doth so easily beset 
us.— Hefc. 12 : 1. 

OUR dear Heavenly Father, 'tis Thy hand that 
opens for us the gates of the morning and draws 
about us the curtains of the night. We thank Thee 
for all the blessings that enrich our days, for the 
watchful care that shields us from evil, for the 
strength of body and mind with which to perform 
daily tasks and duties. Truly Thy compassions fail 
not, and there is no measure to Thy love. Thou dost 
care for each of us as if each were Thine only child. 

To all Thy love and grace may we respond with 
a life dedicated wholly to Thee. Help us to glorify 
Thee by consecrating to Thee every affection of our 
hearts and every work of our hands. 

May we do nothing which Thou canst not approve, 
ask nothing that we cannot receive from Thee, nor 
go where we cannot go with Thee. Blot out from 
the book of Thy remembrance our many transgres- 
sions. Strengthen us that we may shun every allure- 
ment of sin, and grow daily in the knowledge and love 
of our Saviour, so that when we nightly pitch our 
moving tents we may be a day's march nearer home. 
We ask it in the Name of Jesus. Amen* 



Rev. G. Arthur Fey, 
Pittsburgh, Penna. 



MAY EIGHTH 143 



If ye forgive .... your Father will forgive you. 
— Matt. 6 : 14. 

OUR FATHER, we praise Thee for the blessings 
that crown us morning and evening, for the 
love that abides with us through the darkness and 
the light. 

With contrite hearts we confess our sins, pleading 
for the cleansing that God gives through the atoning 
blood of the Cross, and for the sanctifying power 
that causes us to grow into the beauty and strength 
of the Christ life. 

Master, we dedicate ourselves to Thee for ser- 
vice. Wherever we may be and whatever the task 
that may be laid upon us, help us to be Christ-like. 
May we touch other lives with blessing, communi- 
cating the Spirit that cheers the depressed, comforts 
the sorrowful, supplies the needy, encourages the 
weak, and leads the unredeemed soul to the Saviour. 
Thou hast honored us by calling us to be co-laborers 
with Thyself, the God Who works. May we toil in 
the fulness of our powers, to the end that earth may 
become like Heaven. 

Father, keep us true to the highest ideals. Give 
us, in ever increasing measure, the peace that passeth 
understanding, and in life's evening hour may the 
light of the Glory Land be upon our faces. 

Our prayer is in Jesus' Name. Amen. 



W. E. McCuixoch, D.D., 
Pittsburgh, Penna. 



144 MAY NINTH 



Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies. — Ps. 119 : 36. 

OUR FATHER, we thank Thee for the gift of 
life, for soundness of body and sanity of mind, 
for keenness of conscience and strength of will, for 
power of choice and privilege of service. We thank 
Thee that Thou settest the solitary in families, for 
membership in the great family circle where Thou art 
our Father. We lift our hearts to Thee in thanks- 
giving for all the gifts that make life so rich and 
worth living — for love of father, mother, brother, 
sister. We thank Thee for friends, for education, for 
our country. 

We ask Thee for power to live as we ought, to 
serve as we should. We ask Thee to bless our family, 
our neighborhood, our city, our state, our nation. 
Grant Thy grace upon those that Thou hast placed 
to govern and lead us. Grant Thy wisdom to our 
teachers, Thy blessing upon our schools, hospitals, 
prisons, that out of sorrow and suffering we may 
gain strength and patience. Make and keep the 
nations of the earth righteous, that we may have 
peace. Lead us through the valley of the shadow of 
death to the city where there is no night, no sin, 
no sorrow, no death. 

All these favors we ask through Jesus Christ our 
Saviour. Amen. 



Orjrin Philip Giffobd, D.D., 
Brookline, Mass. 



MAY TENTH 145 



Faith which worketh by love. — Gal. 5 : 6. 

OTHOU great and eternal God, Creator, Redeemer, 
and bountiful Benefactor — the one from whom 
every good and perfect gift descends, we are assembled 
as a family to engage in worship of Thee. Breathe into 
our hearts the spirit of true devotion. Give to 
us repentance for our sins. Thou hast taught us 
that there is but one thing that can come between 
our souls and Thee — one thing that can exclude 
us from the Kingdom of Grace and from the King- 
dom of Glory; the one and only thing that Thou dost 
hate — sin. We rejoice that we may be delivered 
from sin; that we may have our fruit unto holiness, 
and in the end everlasting life. We are taught in 
Thy Holy Word that if we confess our sins, Thou art 
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to 
cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Give to us 
faith — faith in Jesus as our present personal, all- 
sufficient Saviour. Give to us hope — the hope that 
is an anchor to the soul, sure and steadfast, that 
entereth into that within the veil, and that will 
securely hold us in the midst of life's storms and 
trials. Give to us love — that perfect love that cast- 
eth out fear. 0, give to us these and all other 
graces that the Holy Spirit imparts. We ask all in 
the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 



Adxa B. Leonard, D.D., 

Brooklyn, N. Y. 



146 MAY ELEVENTH 



But the fruit of the spirit is love. — Gal. 5 : 22. 

GOD of love and of infinite compassion, Who hath 
taught us to call Thee "Our Father which art 
in Heaven," and hath revealed that "like as a father 
pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that 
fear Him/' we approach Thy Throne with reverence 
and humility. 

We have sinned and come short of Thy glory. 
When we would do good, evil is present with us. 
Yet, Lord, we never can be satisfied until we awake 
with Thy likeness. Have mercy upon us, O God, 
according to Thy loving kindness. According unto 
the multitude of Thy tender mercies, blot out our 
transgressions. 

May Christ dwell in our hearts by faith, that we 
being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to 
apprehend with all saints what is the breadth and 
length and depth and height; and to know the love 
of Christ which passeth knowledge, that we may 
be filled with all the fulness of God. Yea, Lord, may 
we grow up into Him in all things, Who is our 
living Head, and daily bear the fruits of the Spirit, 
that men may take knowledge of us that we have 
been with Jesus. 

In His Name, Amen. 



Rev. Marshall P. Talling, Ph.D. 
Toronto, Ont., Canada-. 



MAY TWELFTH 147 



Thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seek The«. 
— Fs. 9:10. 

OGOD, Our Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for 
all the gracious gifts Thy love bestows. In 
whatsoever ill we suffer, teach us submission to Thy 
holy will. Forgive us our transgressions for His 
sake, Who is the propitiation for our sins. With 
hearts softened by Thy boundless mercy, may we 
forgive all who have offended against us. 

For every one whom we should remember before 
Thy Throne of Grace, we beg the special blessings 
needed. Advance the interests of Thy Kingdom 
throughout the world. By Thy Holy Spirit prompt 
and enable us to be workers together with Thee for 
the salvation of all men. Make those in authority 
over us to be capable and honest; and may we 
honor them as ruling by Thy ordinance. Pity all 
who are in adversity. May Christ so dwell in our 
hearts that we shall seek to minister, rather than 
to be ministered unto. 

For our tasks make us sufficient, and for our 
burdens, strong; and, when Thou art ready for us, 
call us home, O Father, to the joy of Thy eternal 
presence. 

All these things we ask in the Name of Jesus 
Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. 



Bishop Lewis W. Btjetox, D.D., 
Lexington, Kentucky. 



148 MAY TH I RTEENTH 



I waited patiently for the Lord ; and he inclined unto 
me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an 
horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a 
rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a 
new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God : many 
shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Blessed 
is that man that maketh the Lord his trust. — Ps. 40 ; 1-4. 



OUR FATHER, in Thee every family in Heaven 
and earth is named. We thank Thee for our 
own home and fireside. We thank Thee for the great 
family of mankind. For ourselves and for all our 
brothers and sisters in all the world we pray Thee 
this day. Send us forth to our own work with will- 
ing hearts and ready hands, and fit us and all men 
for the burdens we must bear this day. Bring us to 
our home this night at the end of fruitful toil, and 
at the day's end grant us rest, and quiet sleep. 
Accept our thanks for all Thy mercies to us and 
to all men, and give to us the added blessing of 
grateful hearts. We ask in the Name, as we seek 
to pray in the Spirit, of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Amen. 



William E. Babton, D.D., LL.D., 
Oak Park, Illinois. 



MAY FOURTEENTH 149 



Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the 
ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in 
the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law 
of the Lord ; and in his law doth he meditate day and 
night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers 
of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season ; his 
leaf also shall not wither; and; whatsoever he doeth shall 
prosper. — Ps. 1 : 1-3. 



OUR FATHER Who art in Heaven and in earth, 
enter, we pray Thee, and be the centre of our 
family love and peace. We differ in our wants, our 
tempers and tastes. Selfishness and egotism spoil 
our perfect union. Only as Thou dost dwell in us, 
and we in Thee, can we realize that unity of life 
and action which makes for true happiness and 
strength. As we go forth this day to our toil and 
our pleasures, help us to keep Thee and one another 
in our minds and hearts. Help each of us to efface 
our self-centered desires, and to make mutual sur- 
renders for the comfort and good of all our household. 
Help us to remember that larger unity of Christian 
life which Thou hast planned in Jesus, our Saviour 
and Lord. May Thy revelation of Fatherhood fashion 
our nation and the peoples of other lands into that 
one family wherein righteousness, peace and joy 
shall dwell forever. Amen. 



Edwin Heyl Delk, D.D., 
Philadelphia, Pa. 



150 MAY FIFTEENTH 



Yet will I not forget thee. — Isaiah 49 : 15. 

OUR Heavenly Father, with grateful hearts we 
offer Thee our thanks this morning. Thou hast 
caused us to dwell in safety during the night; re- 
freshing sleep has invigorated us, and we look 
forward courageously to the duties of this new day. 
Were it not for the assurance we have that whatever 
the trial, perplexity, or difficulty which the coming 
hours may bring, they bring no surprises to Thee, 
we should hesitate to step out into the unknown 
future. 

We pray that as we separate from one another to 
engage in our daily vocations, there may be no 
separation from Thee. As we work for others, may 
our service be given faithfully, as unto Thee, O Lord, 
rather than unto men. If our labors be those of 
the common round of the home, with many irritating 
interruptions, enable us to triumph by the display 
of a calm, unruffled temper, and thus witness to 
Thine own indwelling power in our lives. Let not 
the enemy of our souls gain advantage over any 
of us this day. Thou art stronger than he. Help 
us to be on our guard against him. Lord Jesus, may 
we have Thy mind to-day, that we may exhibit 
unselfishness, and be concerned about the needs and 
the sufferings of others. We make these requests 
in the name of our Lord Jesus. Amen. 



George M. Paden, 
Pittsburgh, Penna. 



MAY SIXTEENTH 151 



Believe in the Lord your God. — 2 Chr. 20 : 20. 

OUR Heavenly Father, a new day opens before us 
— grant that we may enter its portals with 
gratitude for every mercy of the past, and with a 
melody of praise in our hearts. We are deeply 
conscious of our sin, and are unworthy of Thy loving 
kindness. We realize our dependence upon Thee, 
and we beg Thee for Thy presence with us during 
the coming day. Forbid that we should shirk any 
duty, or murmur at any trial. Keep us sweet and 
hopeful; make us kind in word and thought; and 
save us from "the rashness of unguarded moments." 
We pray for those whom we love, and for all who 
do not love us. We pray for the stranger, the poor, 
the sick, the lonely, the sorrowing, and the wayward. 
Grant Thy presence to all who labor in Thy Name 
the world over, and send forth more workers into 
the vineyard. For our own home circle we pray, 
and for that larger circle of the world. Bless little 
children everywhere, and the helpless aged. Let 
wars cease upon the earth, and the Prince of Peace 
rule in all lands. Make us unselfish in our dealings 
with each one, and help us so to serve Thee this day, 
that at its close we may go to our rest conscious 
of Thy presence and Thy approval; we ask in our 
Saviour's Name. Amen. 



Rev. George W. McDaniel, 
Richmond, Ta. 



!52 MAY SEVENTEENTH 



Your sins are forgiven you for His Name's sake. 
—I John 2 : 12. 

ALMIGHTY GOD, Our Heavenly Father, as we 
begin the life of another day we would, humbly 
and sincerely seek Thee as our guide, our protector, 
and merciful Saviour. All our strength comes from 
Thee; in Thy wisdom we find light and truth; in 
Thy presence, joy and comfort. We know not what 
snares may be laid for our feet, what sudden trials 
we may have to meet, or what burdens we may have 
to bear during the coming day. Make us wise to 
see where temptation lies; make us strong to resist. 
May we be brave and patient under trial; unselfish 
and cheerful in burden bearing. Give us consciences 
tender and quick to recognize sin; breathe into our 
hearts the spirit of fervent prayer and perfect trust. 
Enable us to consider the needs of each other. By 
helpful word and deed may we make it easier for 
some one to be strong and faithful. May this day 
not pass until we have done some good in the Mas- 
ter's Name to such as have need. Grant, our Father, 
the forgiveness of all our sins, and enable us to for- 
give one another as Christ commanded us. We pray 
for a holier life through Jesus Christ, Wjho gave 
Himself that we, through Him, might become chil- 
dren of God. Grant these, and all other blessings 
that Thou seest we need, to the glory of Thy most 
Holy Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Frank N. Parker, D.D., 
Atlanta, Georgia. 



MAY EIGHTEENTH 153 



To know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge. 
— Eph. 3 : 19. 



O' 



,LTR FATHER in Heaven, we praise Thee, the 
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who 
is the great Shepherd of the sheep, that when all we, 
like sheep, had gone astray, Thou didst lay upon 
Him the iniquity of us all. Forgive us our sins, 
we pray Thee, in His Name. 

Show us our need of Thee, how great it is; not 
only for deliverance, but also for daily grace and 
guidance. Lead us into the green pastures of 
Thy love and mercy, and give us to drink of the 
water of everlasting life. m t 

Make plain before us the path of duty and privi- 
lege, and help us to walk in it, that it may be for us 
the path of the just which shineth more and more 
unto the perfect day. 

Help us to be kind, tender-hearted and true in 
our dealing with others, and filled with the power 
of the Holv Spirit, that we may be faithful wit- 
nesses for Christ in the world. Tims may we live 
that when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, we may 
receive the crown of life that fadeth not away. 
For Christ's sake. Amen. 



Rtjssell Cecil, D.D., 

Richmond, Virginia. 



154 MAY NINETEENTH 



O, sing unto the Lord a new song ; sing unto the 
Lord, all the earth. Sing unto the Lord, bless His Name ; 
shew forth His salvation from day to day. Declare His 
glory among the heathen, His wonders among all people. 
For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised. — 
Ps. 96: 1-4. 



FATHER of us all, we thank Thee for life and that 
we live now; that our eyes have been opened to 
the beauties of today; that our hands have been 
rilled with the tasks of the present. Nor do we 
despise the past, into whose labors we have entered; 
its errors warn us, its successes inform us, its sacrifices 
inspire us, and to its brave souls we are forever 
debtors. We are thankful for the moral leadership of 
the world, for the women and men who are the road- 
breakers of liberty, for those prophets of the humani- 
ties who hear first the call of life, to whom bodies are 
more than gold, and the soul of a little child of 
greater value than the buildings of a city. We are 
thankful for the friends whose faith in us makes 
us better than we are; for the children who call us 
by the holiest name men may ever know; for the 
tasks we are unworthy of, but rejoice in; and for 
Jesus of Nazareth, Thy Son and our only Saviour, 
in Whose Name are all our prayers and supplications. 
Amen. 



Rev. Daniel A. Poling, 
Boston, Mass. 



MAY TWENTIETH 155 



Incline your heart to the Lord God of Israel. — Josh. 24 : 23. 

OUR Heavenly Father, we pray Thee to accept this, 
our morning prayer and praise. We praise 
Thee for Thy goodness in having brought us safely 
to the beginning of another day; for Thy preserva- 
tion of us during our past lives; for all the mercies 
Thou hast bestowed upon us, notwithstanding our 
repeated transgressions ; but especially for Jesus 
Christ, our Saviour, and in Him, all our means of 
grace and hopes of glory. 

Give us grace that, amidst all our worldly cares 
and occupations, we may never forget Thee, but 
remember that we are ever walking in Thy sight. 
Enable us to subdue all unholy desires, and, denying 
all ungodliness and unholy lusts, to live wholly 
righteously and godly in this present world. Pre- 
serve us from idleness in the concerns both of our 
souls and bodies, that we may not be slothful in 
business, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. 
Be pleased, Lord, to comfort and succor the poor 
and the afflicted, and dispose us to do good unto all 
men. 

Spread the knowledge of Thy Word, and make 
Thy Church the instrument of diffusing and uphold- 
ing true religion. Preserve us all in the unity of 
the faith, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness 
of life, and finally bring us to Thy Kingdom in 
Heaven, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Bishop James Steptoe Johnston, D.D., 
Kerrville, Texas. 



156 MAY TWENTY-FIRST 



Lord increase our faith. — Luke 17 : 5. 

OUR FATHER in Heaven, it is fitting that we 
acknowledge Thee every day; Thou dost not for- 
get us. Teach us to set Thee before our eyes con- 
tinually. 

Our reasons for thanksgiving are new every morn- 
ing; give us grateful hearts. Keep us from sin; 
cleanse us from its pollution; save us from its 
guilt. Grant us true repentance for our sins; help 
us to overcome evil with good. 

Give us eyes to see, and ears to hear, and hearts 
to understand. May we value our time, see our 
opportunities, and hear and understand Thy voice. 
Help us to love Thee supremely, and our neighbors 
as ourselves. 

Give us our daily bread, and something for those 
who lack. Keep our eyes lifted up to the white 
fields, and to the Lord of the Harvest, Who is able 
to send the needed laborers. Grant to us some 
share in the labor and some sheaves to bring with 
rejoicing. 

Hasten the coming of Thy Kingdom, and the doing 
of Thy will among men. May our days end in peace, 
and may the House of the Lord be our dwelling-place 
for evermore. Amen. 



Rev. Thomas M. Huston, 
Whitinsville, Mass, 



MAY TWENTY-SECOND 157 



If thou canst believe, all things are possible. — Mark 9 : 23. 

OUR FATHER, we bless Thee for the privilege we 
have, through Jesus our Lord and Saviour, to 
call Thee Father. In this new day we would put 
our hands in Thine and ask Thee to lead us. The 
future is all dark to us, except as it is lighted up with 
hope of Thy presence to go with us. Thou knowest 
the end from the beginning — not a temptation will 
lurk in our way, not a danger will beset our feet, 
not an opportunity will cross our path, but that 
Thou knowest beforehand. When we think of Thy 
servants of old, how Thou didst lead them and give 
them the victory over every weakness and every 
foe, we are encouraged to trust Thee. Make each of 
us to-day helpers to the ongoing Kingdom of our 
Christ. Our neighbors we would remember. Make 
plain to us our duty to them. May our sympathies 
flow out to all the sorrowing of earth. Help us by 
our efforts to give wings to the Gospel of our Lord, 
which made life here sweeter to us and filled our 
hearts with hope of a life to come. To this may the 
best thoughts of our minds, the best efforts of our 
lives, and the most liberal offering of our means 
be given. For the sake of Thy Son, our Saviour, 
we ask these blessings this day. 



Rev. W. B. Crumpton, 

Montgomery, Alabama. 



158 MAY TWENTY-THIRD 



Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. — Ps. 86 : 2. 

OUR Heavenly Father, as we close our eyes we 
would open our hearts to Thee. Thou knowest us 
altogether; the very thoughts of our hearts, our 
innermost ambitions and desires, our secret ways — 
"all things are naked and open unto the eyes of 
Him with Whom we have to do." Thee we cannot 
deceive. Keep us from trying to deceive others or 
to deceive ourselves. May we be sincere, without 
guile or hypocrisy, genuine — our lives of one piece, 
like the seamless garment of our Lord. 

Keep us from the folly and wickedness of a 
divided life, that is one thing within and another 
without; that is humble and reverent on the day 
of worship, but hard and cold and selfish on the 
days of work and of pleasure. 

May we be thoughtful for those who serve us, 
and faithful to those whom we serve. May our daily 
task be consecrated to Thee, that not only the fruit 
of our labor, but the toil itself of hands and heart 
and brain, may be used for Thy Kingdom. 

Make all our lives of friendship and books and 
rest and love and laughter and service sacred to 
Thee, that Thine may be the glory, through Jesus 
Christ, our Lord and Master. Amen. 



Herbert Welch, D.D., LL.D., 
Delaware, Ohio. 



MAY TWENTY-FOURTH 159 



The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts. — Rom. 5 : 5. 

LIVING and loving God, our Father and our 
Friend, Thou hast in Thy wisdom created all 
things; for Thy pleasure they are and were created. 
To know Thee is life; to serve Thee is freedom; to 
praise Thee is our chiefest joy. As Thou hast created 
us in Thine own image, so, in the light of this new 
day of opportunity and duty, re-create us in the like- 
ness of Him Who is the unchanging Light of life, 
and the unfailing source of strength and comfort. 
Help us in childlike faith anew to accept Him, and 
to faithfully follow in His steps. In Him may our 
sins be forgiven, our affections purified, our wills 
controlled, and our labors blessed. 

feanctify by the indwelling of Thy Spirit our wor- 
ship in the home and in the church, hallow our holy 
relationships, make useful and joyful our lives, for 
the sake of Him Who has taught us to pray, saying: 

"Our Father, W T ho art in Heaven, hallowed be 
Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done 
on earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our 
daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we for- 
give those who trespass against us. And lead us 
not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine 
is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and 
ever." Amen. 



W. H. What Boyle, D.D., 
Detroit, Michigan. 



160 MAY TWENTY-FIFTH 



The Lord is my Shepherd ; I shall not want. He maketh 
me to lie down in green pastures : He leadeth me beside 
the still waters. He restoreth my soul ; He leadeth me 
in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake. Yea, 
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 
I will fear no evil ; for Thou art with me ; Thy rod and 
Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before 
me in the presence of mine enemies : Thou anointest my 
head with oil ; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness 
and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life ; and I 
will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. — Ps. 23. 
(Complete.) 



OUR Heavenly Father, give us renewed power to 
overcome all our faults. Give us a renewed 
spirit of good will toward all our fellow beings. Give 
us a firmer faith in Thee, and in all the promises 
of Thy Holy Word. Help us to follow those lines 
of action which bring peace, honor and prosperity. 
And, by the guidance of Thy Holy Spirit, guide us 
ever in the way that goeth upward, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen. 



Dean Charles R. Brown, 
Neic Haven, Conn. 



MAY TWENTY-SIXTH 161 



Without faith it is impossible to please God. — Heb. 11 : 6. 



OCR FATHER, which art in Heaven, with praise 
on our lips and thanksgiving in our hearts, we, 
Thy children, worship Thee. From Thy hand we 
have been fed; by Thy bounty we have been clothed; 
and day and night under the shelter of Thy love we 
have dwelt in safety. In the poverty of our service 
of Thee we have freely received all things. 

Forgive, we beseech of Thee, all our ingratitude. 
Cast away all remembrance of our sins, for with 
sorrow do we repent of them before Thee. Stir up 
within a compelling desire to love Thee above 
all else, and to do in our living all Thy will con- 
cerning us. 

Grant us Thy Grace that in word and thought 
and deed we may show that we have been with 
Christ and learned of Him. May, in some measure, 
Thy Kingdom come through our living, and so Thy 
Name be glorified. By the indwelling of the Holy 
Spirit make us fitted for Thy service in all our days 
here, and bring us in Thine' own good time to Thy- 
self, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 



John Gbibbel, 

Philadelphia, Penna. 



162 MAY TWENTY-SEVENTH 



Therefore I ' say unto you, Take no thought for your 
life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink ; nor yet 
for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life 
more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the 
fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, 
nor gather into barns ; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth 
them. Are ye not much better than they? — Matt. 6: 
35-26. 



ALMIGHTY GOD, Thou Who art the Creator, the 
Preserver, and the Beneficent Ruler of the uni- 
verse — God the Father, God the Son, and God the 
Holy Ghost, we praise and magnify Thy Great and 
Excellent Name, not only because of Thy Majesty 
and Glory, but also because of Thy Divine Love 
and Compassion. We thank Thee for Thy goodness, 
and all the blessing of life, and we most humbly 
beseech Thee to forgive our sins, to increase our 
faith, and to make us love Thee more and serve Thee 
better. We pray for the peace of the world, for the 
spread of Thy Gospel, and the salvation of mankind. 
Do Thou most graciously grant us in this life food, 
raiment, shelter, home, friends, and happiness, and in 
the world to come, life everlasting. 

We ask it all in the !Name and for the sake of 
Thy Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Re- 
deemer. Amen. 



Judge Henry W. Habter, 
Canton, Ohio. 



MAY TWENTY-EIGHTH 163 



I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way that thou 
shalt go. I will guide thee with Mine eye. — Ps. 32 : 8. 



FATHER in Heaven, we turn our hearts to Thee as 
the source of life, and truth, and love. We do not 
claim Thy constant bounty because of merits we pos- 
sess, but in Christ, the Saviour's name, we seek Thy 
favor. 

Give us our daily fare today — the food from heaven 
for bodies spent; manna for the mind; and more than 
all, we crave the Bread of Life to make us strong of 
heart and pure of soul. 

Teach us to love our fellow-men as Thou dost love, 
forgiving those who treat us ill, and giving help and 
hope to those who need our aid. Let not temptation 
come too great to bear. Give us abundant grace to 
do the appointed task with cheerful heart and ever- 
ready hand. 

And when the shadows of the night have come, 
grant that Thy presence we may feel, as One Who in 
the day has walked with us. In Thy dear name we 
pray. A men. 



Pbof. Edwabd B. Poixabd, D.D., 
Chester, Petwa. 



164 MAY TWENTY-NINTH 



Let your requests be made known unto God. — Phil. 4 : 6. 

OUR FATHER, Who art in Heaven, we draw 
near to Thee in glad and grateful recognition of 
our dependence upon Thee. We thank Thee for the 
blessings of the night — for refreshing sleep, for 
freedom from sickness, accident, or sudden alarm, 
and for the restoration of our powers with the com- 
ing of the new day. 

We would begin this day with Thee, for we would 
fain receive Thy blessing ere we venture upon its 
untrodden paths. Continue with us, Lord, through- 
out its hours, lest amid busy cares and thronging 
duties we meet the onslaught of sudden temptation, 
and, missing Thee, we fall. 

Help us to do our duty. Keep us from the 
shame of the slurred task. May we have no occasion 
to blush over our appointed work neglected or ill 
done. Grant us the spirit of comradeship; give us 
to speak the word of cheer. May our lives radiate 
joy. Let the evening find hope and happiness where 
we shall have passed by. 

Then, dear Father, through the blood of the ever- 
lasting covenant, when life's evening shall have come, 
gather Thy children home, and let us find a refuge, 
fearless and unashamed, in Thine arms of love. 

In Jesus' Name. Amen. 



Rev. H. Edgae Allen, 
Brockville, Canada. 



MAY THIRTIETH 165 



Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, 
but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household 
of God. And are built upon the foundation of the 
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the 
chief corner Stone ; In Whom all the building fitly framed 
together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord : 
In Whom ye also are builded together for an habitation 
of God through the Spirit. — Ephes. 2 : 19-22. 



DEAR FATHER, the privileges are so exceedingly 
great that we can hardly conceive that they are 
ours — to come to Thee, the King of kings and Lord 
of lords, at any time and any place, and command- 
ingly invited to ask and seek and knock, with the 
Divine assurance that everyone that asketh receiveth, 
ana he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh 
it shall be opened — for these unspeakable privileges, 
dear Father, we thank Thee. The day is before us, 
and soon it will be behind us forever; only this 
once can we live through it. 

Father, cleanse us of all sin with the blood of 
the Lamb, and occupy our bodies, making them 
temples of the Holy Ghost. Use us so that we shall 
not leave one thing undone that we should do, nor 
do one thing we should leave undone. Keep us 
happy in Thee. Give us a faith that will not waver, 
worry nor whine, nor wrangle, but a faith that will 
wait, watch, work, wrestle, and always win. Amen. 



S. P. Long, D.D., 

Mansfield, Ohio. 



166 MAY THIRTY-FIRST 



The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him. 
— Ps. 145 : 18. 

OTHOU, God and Father of us all, Thou art over 
all Thy children — over all their joys and sor- 
rows, God blessed forever. Thou art the light of 
the living, the refuge of the dying, and our eternal 
home. Thou hast placed us here in families, and dost 
unite the hearts that make the happiest homes. Thou 
hast led us most graciously in the past. Our yester- 
days are luminous with Thy mercies. Through dan- 
gers seen and unseen; through doors which have 
opened as strangely as by an angel's hand, Thou 
hast led us, and always safely. On the smiling sur- 
face of life Thou hast wafted us by favoring breezes, 
and when the surges of trouble arise, we trust that 
we shall not be borne away from Thee, but nearer to 
Thee, and into closer fellowship with the only real 
and abiding world — the spiritual. Comfort the 
mourners. Walk with them all their life's journey. 
Strengthen them as Thou alone canst, and light "the 
shadows of earth's little while." Thou art the Lord 
of life and death. If we are united to Thee by a 
living faith, nothing can separate us from Thee and 
Thy gracious guidance. As the distance shortens, 
and the flesh fails, may mind and heart become more 
and more stayed upon Thee; may every duty become 
more joyous because done unto Thee, and a part of 
our high calling in Christ Jesus. Amen. 

Rev. Daniel Doechesteb, A.M., Ph.D., 
Lexington, Mass. 



JUNE FIRST 167 



He heareth the prayer of the righteous. — Prov. 15 : 29. 

GRACIOUS and loving Father, with what tender- 
ness Thou hast guarded and guided us! Grate- 
fully we acknowledge Thy goodness. 

We crave a closer fellowship with Thee. Show us 
the plan and program of life marked out for us in 
Thy loving kindness and infinite wisdom. The strug- 
gle up is hard. empower us for life's tasks and 
temptations. Grant us trustful resignation where 
mystery surrounds the way Home. Keep us calm 
while all about us is turbulent. Keep us patient when 
conditions are most trying. May the Redemptive 
Passion of Jesus Christ be in reality imparted to us, 
so that we shall delight to render humble service to 
Thee. Help us to love our fellowmen. Make us will- 
ing to undertake hard and apparently impossible 
tasks when we are impressed that it is Thy will. We 
would know the truth. Reward us with revelations 
which will build us and bless us. We pray for those 
in deep affliction. Teach us how to bear comfort to 
the sad, hope to the discouraged, peace to the trou- 
bled, confidence to the belated and overwhelmed. 
On every child of humanity may the healing rays 
from the Sun of Righteousness fall. Make us ready 
for service and sacrifice. Protect us, and provide for 
all our needs, and grant the forgiveness of all sin, 
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

A. Z. Conbad, D.D., 

Boston, Mass. 



168 JUNE SECOND 



He that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him 
about. — Ps. 32 : 10. 

OUR Father, in Whom we live and move and have 
our being, we thank Thee for Thy care, for our 
home, for our parents, and our friends. We thank 
Thee for the joy of salvation, for the health of body 
and vigor of mind, for the joy and delights of social 
intercourse. We thank Thee for Jesus Christ, for 
His sacrifice for us, and for the promise of eternal 
life through faith in Him. 

Teach us, our Father, how to appreciate Thy love 
to us, Thy boundless care and Thy constant watchful- 
ness. Indicate to us the things which Thou wouldst 
have us to do. Teach us how to be helpful and kind 
one to another. Teach us how to live so as to bring joy 
and blessing into the lives of others. Give unto us 
the Holy Spirit, that we may know the true meaning 
of Thy Word, and how to do Thy will. Help us to 
watch and pray as we walk in the midst of tempta- 
tion. Make us to abhor evil and to cleave only to 
what is good. Strengthen us in the day of adversity. 
Protect us from the snares of prosperity. Help us to 
do only the things which are pleasing to Thee. 
Hear us, O God, in this our prayer, for Jesus' sake. 
Amen. 



Rev. R. R. Butterwick, 
Mountville, Penna. 



JUNE THIRD 169 



Let the poor and needy praise Thy Name. — Ps. 74 : 21. 

OUR Father in Heaven, we kneel together to 
thank Thee for Thy goodness and mercy, which 
have been so manifest in our lives. Thy good gifts 
have not failed, morning nor evening. When we have 
forgotten Thee in the absorption of work and play, 
when we have neglected Thee through lack of grati- 
tude and love, Thou hast continually looked upon us 
to bless and keep us. 

We beseech Thee, blessed Lord, to keep us from all 
unholy desires and practices, and to inspire within 
us a love for Thee, for all our fellowmen, and all 
good work. We ask Thee to open doors of oppor- 
tunity to us, that we may in some way each day 
honor Thy Name and establish Thy will in the world. 
Give us the highest privilege of hourly fellowship 
with Thee, that we may be confident of Thy nearness 
to us and Thy interest in our affairs. 

Forgive the many things that have marred our 
lives and stained our souls. We are ashamed of 
them, and turn from them in sincere repentance, 
blessing Thee that there is forgiveness and cleansing 
in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. 

In His Name we ask all these good and precious 
gifts. Amen. 



W. COUBTLAND ROBINSON, D.D., 

Philadelphia, Penna. 



170 JUNE FOURTH 



Make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers. 
— Ezra 10 : 11. 

OUR Father in Heaven, we bow before Thee in 
gratitude for the care of the night, and for the 
light and hope of the new day. Grant that we may 
enter upon it in the joy of forgiven sin. Bring us to 
its close with souls unstained by conscious disobedi- 
ence. Give us wisdom through the indwelling of Thy 
Holy Spirit that the choices of the day may be right. 
Keep us from the follies into which we shall be 
tempted to fall; preserve us from harm and danger 
of every kind. Bestow upon us the grace of love. 
Help us to love Thee and Thy Kingdom, and our 
fellowmen. Let Thy gracious presence today attend 
all with whom our lives are linked. Give them 
every blessing we ask for ourselves. Be in the hearts 
and homes especially present to our daily thoughts. 
Keep from sin and shame and harm all who are 
dear to us. Have mercy upon Thy people of all 
creeds and tongues. Build up a holy Church through- 
out the world. Give victory to those who in hard 
places witness for Christ. Deal tenderly with men 
everywhere who have missed the way. Minister to 
the poor and the sick, the prisoner, and the oppressed. 
Rebuke and save those who plot evil against their 
neighbor. Win victory for Thyself in the affairs of 
our nation, and the nations of the earth. We offer 
these our morning prayers in the Name of Thy Son, 
our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Rev. Hubert C. Herring, 
Boston, Mass. 



JUNE FIFTH 171 



They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. 
Isa. 40:31. 



OGOD, our Heavenly Father, Who hast declared 
Thy love for Thy children by sending Thy Son 
Jesus Christ into the world to be our Redeemer, we 
beseech Thee to enable us to live today and every day 
in thankfulness to Thee for what Thou hast done 
and art doing for us. In all our temptations and 
trials, in all the duties that are to be performed, 
teach us to seek Thy grace, which is sufficient for us 
and seeking it, to use it so that we may not fall 
into sin, nor fail to fulfil the work that Thou hast 
given us to do. Grant us ever to keep in the fore- 
front of our remembrance the fact that as Christ has 
enlightened us, so we are to be a light unto the 
world. 

Preserve us from the sin of denying Thee by our 
lives while we confess Thee with our lips, and from 
bringing harm to others by our inconsistency and 
neglect. Increase our faith, our hope, and our love, 
and use us "just as Thou wilt, and when, and 
where," as instruments for the promotion of Thy 
glory, and for the salvation of the world. 

We ask it in the Name of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, 
our Lord. Amen. 



Bishop Joseph M. Francis, D.D., 
Indianapolis, Indiana. 



172 JUNE SIXTH 



That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of 
things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under 
the earth. And that every tongue should confess that 
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as 
in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, 
work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to 
do of His good pleasure.— 'Phil. 2 : 10-13. 



MERCIFUL GOD, our Father, we thank Thee for 
health, and life, and every good gift. Thou 
hast created us in Thine own image, and highly 
endowed us as thinking creatures. We recognize Thy 
divine right to rule over us, and we pray that we may 
be kept true and right before Thee. Give us grace 
for this day's duties, and make us kindly disposed 
toward our fellowmen. Support Thy people every- 
where in the midst of difficulties, and bring this 
world to Thyself. Regard with much mercy the 
poor and unfortunate. Redeem men from the sins 
that beset them. For ourselves, our loved ones, our 
community, and our nation, we make our humble 
prayer. 

Mercifully grant unto us all those blessings Thou 
seest we need, through the merits of Jesus Christ, 
our adorable Saviour. Amen. 



Prof. Charles G. Heckert, D.D. 
Springfield, Ohio. 



JUNE SEVENTH 173 



The prayer of faith shall save the sick. — James 5 : 15. 



OUR FATHER who art in Heaven, we kneel be- 
fore Thee in this home which Thou hast given 
us, and in which Thou hast blessed us. As we rejoice 
in the good things of this earthly home, help us not 
to forget the better home on high, which Thou hast 
prepared for them that love Thee, and in which we 
shall some day dwell with Thee and with loved ones 
gone before. 

Provide us today our daily bread, and feed not only 
our bodies, but feed also our souls with the "bread 
of life," even Jesus Christ. 

Keep Thou our feet today, that they may not go into 
evil places; keep Thou also the door of our lips, 
that no unkind or unclean word may pass them; 
create within us clean hearts, for "out of them are 
the issues of life;" and whatsoever our hands find 
to do, may we do it "heartily, as unto the Lord." 

Bless with Thy healing touch all sick and troubled 
ones. May Thy grace abound unto them and be 
sufficient for them. Hide all our loved ones, as under 
the shadow of Thy wings, that no evil or harm may 
befall them. Lead us all in the good and perfect 
way. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



Rev. John W. Spbinger, 
Pittsburgh, Pa. 



174 JUNE EIGHTH 



Then will I hear from Heaven, and forgive their sins. 
—II Chr. 7 : 14. 

ALMIGHTY GOD, our Heavenly Father, we thank 
Thee for the way of approach to Thyself through 
the rent veil of the flesh of Jesus Christ, our Lord; 
for the efficacy of His most precious blood, which 
cleanseth from all sin; for the promise of help 
through the Holy Spirit, when we know not what 
we should pray for; for the assurance that Thou 
hearest us, and dost delight to answer our prayers 
when they are in accord with Thy Holy Will. We 
bless Thee for Thine unspeakable Gift, for the 
matchless expression of Thy love in the sacrifice of 
Christ, and for the grace so freely bestowed upon the 
sinful sons of men. Accept the homage of our 
hearts, the surrender of our wills, the consecration 
of our powers, and help us in all circumstances to 
be true to Thee. Deliver us in the time of tempta- 
tion. Keep our feet so that our steps may not 
slide, and help us not to sin against Thee. Enable 
us to realize that sin is our enemy, that it hides 
Thee from us, and will, if indulged in, ruin us in time 
and eternity. Fill us with the spirit of Jesus, that 
all our speech and conduct may reveal His life in 
us, and that we may constantly glorify Thee, our 
adorable God. Graciously accept us and our peti- 
tions in the name of Jesus our Lord. Amen. 



Rev. James H. Eotd, 
London, Canada. 



JUNE NINTH 175 



Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart. 
— Deut. 6 : 5. 



GRACIOUS Father in Heaven, admit us as a 
family into the secret of Thy presence, that we 
may worship Thee in spirit and in truth. 

Accept our grateful praise for all that Thou art, 
and for all that Thou hast done for us and our 
fellowmen. Especially do we thank Thee for our 
redemption and salvation through Thy Son, Jesus 
Christ. 

Father, reveal to us our sins and faults, that we 
may repent and forsake them, and that Thou mayest 
forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 
And let Thy Holy Spirit dwell within us today, 
restraining us from all wrong-doing, and directing 
us into paths of truth and peace. 

Guard us in those points of our characters that 
are most weak. Keep us from vanity and pride, 
from evil thoughts, and from unkind speech. Help 
us to love Thee with all our hearts, and to cordially 
love one another. Aid us as we try to serve Thee 
by ministering to our fellowmen. And grant us at 
last a home with Thee in Heaven, through our 
Saviour, Christ. Amen. 



Jesse Thompson Whitley, D.D., 
Norfolk, Virginia. 



176 JUNE TENTH 



Let them praise Thy great and terrible Name. — Ps. 99 : 3. 

OUR dear Lord and Master, Thou hast set each 
family apart, and Thou dealest with them 
each according to duties well done, and faith well 
founded. We come, humbly imploring Thy forgive- 
ness for the errors and mistakes of the past, and we 
beseech Thy guidance for the days to follow. Well 
and truly do we need Thee every hour, and therefore 
we entreat Thy guidance, without which we would 
be led astray, or fall into danger. Guard us from 
the terror by night, and the arrow that flieth at 
noon-day. 

We have our trials, our necessities, and our dis- 
tresses. All these we put into Thy hands, asking 
that Thou wouldst deal with us as little children. 
We have no fear of Thee, Almighty Father, for we 
have the assurance of Thy love. 

Watch over all our business matters; help us to 
be honest and square in attending to them, and do 
Thou so guide us that we shall always do what is 
right in Thy sight. Lead us safely along the journey 
of life, and at last give to us all the Eternal Life, 
which we long for more than for the hidden treasures 
of earth. 

Save all whom we love from passion, pride, and 
discontent, and finally bring us into Thy presence, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



William P. Jacobs, D.D., 
Clinton, South Carolina. 



JUNE ELEVENTH 177 



Bless the Lord, O my soul. — Ps. 103 : 2. 

OH GOD, our Heavenly Father, through Thy 
mercy we have been brought to the saving 
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ; and by Thy 
goodness we are permitted to enter upon the duties 
of another day. We thank Thee for Thy loving 
kindness, and humbly beseech Thee that we may 
this day show forth Thy praise with our lips and 
in our lives. Banish all doubt from our minds, and 
drive away all shadows from our souls, and enable 
us to realize Thy presence in our going out and our 
coming in, in our down-sitting and our uprising. 
May we have grace to think those things that are 
right, and courage to speak the words that may set 
forward Thy Kingdom! We pray that our dear ones 
may be kept both outwardly in their bodies, and 
inwardly in their souls, and be defended from all 
adversities which may happen to the body, and from 
all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the 
soul. Keep Thy Church in continual godliness; and 
grant that through the consecrated work of Chris- 
tian people everywhere, the whole world may be 
brought to Jesus Christ, and be saved. And oh, 
blessed Lord, when the busy day of our little life on 
earth is over, may we with all our loved ones, enter 
the service of eternal praise in Thy Heavenly Home, 
through the sole merits of our Lord and Saviour, 
Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Bishop James R. Winchesteb, D.D., 
Little Rock, Arkansas. 



178 JUNE TWELFTH 



Let us draw near with a pure heart in full assurance of 
faith. — Heb. 10 : 22. 

OUR GOD and Father, we come to Thee with 
grateful hearts for all Thy mercy and goodness 
toward us. We know we are unworthy of the least 
of Thy favors. We have nothing in ourselves to 
commend us to Thee, except our weakness and need; 
but we rejoice that, notwithstanding our unworthi- 
ness, Thou dost bid us come to Thee and tell Thee 
all that is in our hearts. We confess before Thee 
our sins, and beseech Thy forgiveness. We plead for 
Thy grace, and the strength Thou alone canst give, 
for every experience of life. We pray that Thou wilt 
draw us nearer to Thyself. May we ever be conscious 
of Thy presence, and be uplifted by the assurance 
of Thy guidance and fellowship. Make the better 
and nobler life of the Spirit more real to us day 
by day. Take Thou possession of all our thoughts, 
and fill us with Thy Holy Spirit. Enable us to over- 
come every temptation, and to know and to do Thy 
holy will. Lead us by Thy mighty and loving hand 
always, and make our lives a blessing to other souls. 
When Thou art done with us here, receive us, we 
pray, to Thyself, in the upper and better world. 

We ask all this in the name of and for the sake 
of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. 



A. Judson Rowland, D.D., 

Philadelphia, Penna. 



JUNE TH I RTEENTH 179 



They that know Thy Name will put their trust In Thee. 
— Ps. 9 : 10. 

OGOD, Thou art our Father and our Mother too, 
and under no circumstances can we get beyond 
the tireless search of Thy love. Ever since we were 
born Thou hast cared for us as though Thou hadst 
no other children, and still Thou dost follow us with 
ten thousand loving persuasions and infinite 
solicitude. 

Grant, we beseech Thee, that Thy goodness may 
lead us to deeper consecration and to more heroic 
endeavor to extend Thy Kingdom. May we prove 
our love for God, Whom we have not seen, by self- 
denying service in behalf of our brother who is ever 
before our eyes. Save us from selfishness, from 
Pharisaism and bigotry, from pride and vain glory, 
and all narrow mindedness and uncharitableness. 

May we make our Master visible to some who have 
not yet beheld Him, and may we help our neighbors 
and associates to think of Him Who came not to be 
ministered unto but to minister; Who would not 
save Himself, but saved others, and gave His blessed 
life that we might live a life of Christ-like courage 
and sacrifice. Hear us, Father, for all sorts and 
conditions of men. Make wars throughout the world 
to cease, and bring this poor little sin-cursed planet 
back into Thy bosom! Amen. 



Dillon Broxson, D.D., 
Boston, Mass. 



180 JUNE FOURTEENTH 



The living shall praise Thee. — Isaiah 38 : 19. 

HEAVENLY Father, we thank Thee for the 
refreshing sleep of last night, for sparing us 
to see another day, for our loved ones, and for this 
family altar, for the gift of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, 
and for His love and self-sacrifice. 

We sincerely repent of all wrong-doing. Pardon 
all our sins, and give to us a forgiving spirit. Help 
us to trust in Thy Word, and may we find in it 
medicine for the mind, and food for the soul. 

We pray for our beloved country, and for all in 
authority, in our own and other nations. Bless the 
poor and needy, the sick and dying, the bereaved 
and all who are in distress. We plead with Thee for 
any who are wrongfully treated, until "justice roll 
on like water, and righteousness as a perennial 
stream." 

Abundantly reward the preaching of Thy Gospel 
everywhere, and bless our church and minister with 
an outpouring of Thy Holy Spirit, until one shall 
not have to say to another — "Know the Lord, — for 
all shall know Him from the least even unto the 
greatest." 

And to Thee will we give the glory forever and 
ever. Amen. 



Capt. (Rev.) H. S. Mullowxey, M.A., B.D., 
Oicen Sound, Ont., Canada, 



JUNE FIFTEENTH 181 



He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him : I will be 
with him in trouble ; I will deliver him, and honor him. — 
Ps. 91 : 15. 

LOVING Father, may we realize what a great 
privilege it is for us to come directly into Thy 
very presence, in the name, and by the close relation- 
ship of Thy Son as our Saviour and Elder Brother, 
and to really be Thy children. Help us today to be 
able to call Thee "our Father." Help us to realize 
that Thy great loving heart turns towards us as the 
heart of a loving parent turns towards his child. 
Each day may this relationship mean more and 
more, and become very precious to us. 

As we take up the duties of the day, may we take 
shelter under the wonderful promises of the Ninety- 
first Psalm, and may they be fulfilled to us and our 
loved ones. May we in some way be a help and 
blessing to someone who may need us this day. Help 
us to be careful about our example before others. 
May we "walk, stand, and sit" in such places as may 
be pleasing in Thy sight, and be safe for others to 
follow us in. 

May we, by our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as 
our personal Saviour, be clothed with His righteous- 
ness, and have a part in His resurrection. Guide us 
and help us as the days pass, we ask in His name. 
Amen. 



E. K. Warren, 
Three Oaks, Mich, 



182 JUNE SIXTEENTH 



The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble ; the Name of 
the God of Jacob defend thee ; Send thee help from the 
sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion ; Remember 
all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice ; Grant 
thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy 
counsel. We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the 
Name of our God we will* set up our banners : the Lord 
fulfill all thy petitions. — Ps. 20 : 1-5. 

ALMIGHTY GOD, our Heavenly Father, we pray 
Thee to bless this family and household, and 
all "who are dear to them, wherever they may be. 
Bless them with all best blessings, both temporal 
and spiritual. 

Bless them in the basket and in the store, bless 
them in their rising up and lying down, their going 
out, and coming in, and in all that they put their 
hands unto. 

But above all, bless them with all best spiritual 
blessings; increase in them true religion, nourish 
them with all goodness, and of Thy great mercy 
keep them in the same, and help them to bring up 
their children in the nurture and admonition of the 
Lord, that as they grow in age, they may grow in 
grace, and be truly members of Christ, children of 
God, and inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven, that 
they may be faithful even unto death, and finally 
attain unto everlasting life, through Jesus Christ, 
our Lord. Amen. 



Bishop William Crane Gray, D.D., 
Orlando, Florida. 



JUNE SEVENTEENTH 183 



I prayed unto the Lord, my God, and made my confession. 
— 'Dan. 9 : 4. 



EVERLIVING, everloving God, our Heavenly 
Father, we bless and praise Thee, that Thou 
didst set the human race in families for its higher 
development and its greater influence. This morn- 
ing we bless Thy holy name that we have been 
called into this family now before Thee in prayer. 

May we gratefully recognize our duty and our 
responsibility to Thee, and to one another, and to 
this community. 

Keep us this day from sin, as we do the tasks of 
the day. Watch Thou over us and guard us from 
danger. Teach us how to live unselfishly, each for 
the other, in all the little things of the home. 

May we, as father and mother, as brothers and 
sisters, fulfill our tasks to each and to all, with the 
blessed example of our Elder Brother always before 
our minds. 

Prosper the work of each one of us, and the labors 
and business of all our neighbors. Grant, above all, 
to our family the real and abiding prosperity of a 
rich and helpful faith in our Lord and Master, to 
Whom be praise, and glory, now and forever. Amen. 



L. B. Wolf, D.D., 
Baltimore, Maryland. 



184 JUNE EIGHTEENTH 



Men ought always to pray and not to faint. — Luke 18 : 1. 



OUR Heavenly Father, we come to Thee in 
humble worship this morning. We thank Thee 
for Thy loving care while we slept, and for the sleep 
and rest of the night. We thank Thee that, re- 
freshed in body and mind, Thou hast brought us to 
see the beginning of a new day. Lord abide with 
us still. 

We ever need Thee. Protect us from harm, and 
guide us in all the duties of this day. Deliver us 
from evil, and make us strong to do Thy will. 

Be pleased to remember with Thy blessing all our 
loved ones. Some of them are far distant from us, 
but Thou art everywhere present. Be pleased to 
bless Thine own work. Let great grace be given to 
ministers of the Gospel, and all Christian workers 
everywhere, that Thy Name may be glorified through 
their efforts. 

And now, blessed Lord, we commit our loved ones 
and ourselves to Thy care. Pardon our sins, and 
guide us by Thy Spirit in the way pleasing to Thy- 
self this day, and all we ask in the Name of Jesus 
our Saviour. Amen. 



Rev. Douglas Laing, 
Kingston, Ont., Canada. 



JUNE NINETEENTH 185 



The Lord knoweth them that trust Him. — Nahum 1 : 7. 

OUR Heavenly Father, we lift up our hearts to 
Thee in adoring praise for Thy love and grace 
made known unto us in Jesus Christ, our Saviour, 
Who died for our sins. 

We thank Thee for Thy blessed Book, which is 
able to make us wise unto salvation. Help us to 
re^id, and inwardly digest it. We thank Thee for 
the Holy Spirit, Who takes of the things of Christ 
and shows them unto us, and Who is promised to 
guide us into all truth, and to comfort us all the 
days of our life. Help us to recognize Him in all 
we think, or say, or do, and never vex, grieve, nor 
sin against Him. But help us to follow Him and to 
realize His presence with us. 

We need Thee for the little things of life as well 
as the big things. Help us to control our tongues, 
so that we may not speak unadvisedly with our lips. 
Help us to live daily in expectation of our Lord's 
coming, and be ready when He comes. Bless all the 
families of the earth, and graciously give success to 
all ministers, missionaries, and Christian workers 
who are humbly seeking to glorify Jesus, and to win 
the nations to Him. 

We ask it all in His Name. Amen. 



Rev. Lewis Powell, D.D., 
Hopkinsville, Kentucky. 



186 JUNE TWENTIETH 



The Lord loveth the righteous. — Ps. 146 : 8. 

OLORD, our God! We present ourselves to Thee 
in the Name of Jesus Christ Thy Son, our 
[Saviour. Give us a joyous sense of our acceptance 
with Thee in Him. May the Spirit of Thy Son in us 
now cry "Abba: Father." 

We would know Thee more and more. Reveal 
Thyself to U3 increasingly in Thy Word, and in the 
Spirit of Jesus, our Lord. We would love Thee; 
show us Thy love. We will then trust Thee always, 
and we will serve Thee in all we think and say and 
do. Accept and seal us in all this, our Heavenly 
Father. Loving and serving Thee, we will love and 
serve all Thy creatures, and especially our fellow 
men as members of the great family of God on earth. 
We will regard none of our powers or possessions as 
our own. We will seek every one the other's good, 
and "thus fulfil the law of Christ." Every day 
fulfil Thy Will and accomplish Thy purpose in and 
through us, and thus prepare us to meet Thee, and 
be with Thee, and be filled with Thee, and made Thy 
instruments in ever higher, richer, and more blessed 
service, through eternity. 

We ask this not for ourselves alone, but for all 
Thy people, and finally for all mankind, through 
Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 



Rev. J. R. Johnston, 
Preston, Ontario, Canada. 



JUNE TWENTY-FIRST 187 



The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and 
plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide : neither will 
he keep His anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us 
after our sins ; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 
For as the Heaven is high above the earth, so great is 
His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the 
east is from the west, so far hath He removed our trans- 
gressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, 
so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. — Ps. 103 ; 8-13. 



O ALMIGHTY GOD and gracious Father, we 
beseech Thee, hear our prayer today. Bless us 
with all health and happiness. Give us sane minds, 
light hearts, unsullied vision of our duties and re- 
sponsibilities, and, above all, a right judgment in 
all things. Guard our inexperience; keep us from 
all self-conceit; make us become as little children, 
that we may be wise; to become gentle, that we may 
be strong; to become humble, that we may become 
divine. 

Prepare us to fulfil our course in life with honor; 
and grant that we may so live in this world that, 
in the world to come, we may have life everlasting; 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



David M. Steele, D.D., 
Philadelphia, Penna. 



188 JUNE TWENTY -SECOND 



My peace I give unto you. — John 14 : 27. 

OTHOU Who art the giver of every good and 
perfect gift, in Whose unfailing love we live 
and move and have our being, and without Whom 
we should be poor indeed, enable us, we beseech Thee, 
to discern even more clearly Thine abounding good- 
ness to us, and as Thou hast made us rich in bless- 
ings, make us also rich in gratitude. We praise 
Thee, our Father, for those revelations of Thy love 
with which we are most familiar, and which we are 
all too prone to forget; for rising and setting suns, 
and the stars; for clouds and winds and passing 
seasons; for the outer light in which we walk 
serenely and dwell securely; and the light within, 
the true light which witnesses to our oneness with 
Thee. Wilt Thou help us reverently to interpret all 
our blessings in terms of Thy love. We thank Thee 
for our friends and all that friendship has meant 
to us, and that we may think of ourselves as friends 
of Jesus Christ. Wilt Thou help us also to under- 
stand what high obligations such friendship lays 
upon us. We praise Thee for Thy gift of peace — 
that peace which the world cannot give nor take 
away, the peace of those who have found their 
sanctuary in the love and goodness of God. Ever- 
more give us this peace. In His name, who came to 
bring us peace. Amen. 

G. Glenn Atkins, D.D., LL.B., 
Providence, K. I. 



JUNE TWENTY-THIRD 189 



Te believe in God, believe also in Me. — John 14 : 1. 

A OUGHT Y GOD, in Whom we live and move 
and have our being, we adore Thee as the God 
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in Whose 
name we present our adoration, our thanksgiving, 
our praise, and our supplication. We thank Thee for 
the gift of Thy Son, through Whom we have our 
iedemption, and in Whose name we ask for the 
pardon of all our sins. We beseech Thee, Lord, 
to keep us this day, in all joy, health, and safety 
from the perils that may beset us. Grant that from 
day to day we may walk in all reverence and godly 
fear in the way of Him Who hath called us into His 
Church and Kingdom. Deliver us, we pray Thee, 
from all envy, and fear, and temptation. Grant 
unto us that* which is good and profitable, and for- 
give us those things wherein we have sinned against 
Thee. Deliver us from all those things which 
estrange men one from another, from such things 
as cause men to stumble and err from the truth as 
it is in Christ. Keep us from the dominion of self- 
ishness, and grant us willingness to bear one an- 
other's burdens. These, and all other needed bless- 
ings, we ask in the adorable name of our Saviour, 
to Whom with the Father and the Spirit shall be 
tne praise and power and dominion now and for- 
evermore. Amen. 



David H. Bauslin, D.D., 
Springfield, Ohio. 



190 JUNE TWENTY-FOURTH 

My God, unto Thee will I pray. — Ps. 5 : 2. 

HOLY Father, we thank Thee for the privilege 
of prayer. It is of Thine amazing goodness 
that we are permitted to pray, and of Thine infinite 
wisdom that our prayers are answered. Our grati- 
tude goes out to God for life and health, and all the 
blessings which come to us. Above all other bless- 
ings, we are grateful to Thee for the Saviour. In 
thinking of the blessings so graciously bestowed upon 
us, our hearts adopt the words of Scripture — 
"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift." 
We lay ourselves at Thy feet, most Holy One; we 
adore Thy Great and Holy Name. Thou alone art 
God, and beside Thee there is none else. Do Thou 
bless our home, and guide us, to make it such a 
home as Thou wouldst have it be. Sanctify our 
relations one to another, to become all that God has 
planned for our lives. Bless, we pray Thee, all 
other families, our neighbors and friends, together 
with the stranger afar off; though an enemy, hear 
us for them, most gracious Father, and give to them 
every good thing we would ask for ourselves. Bless 
our country. Give the spirit of wisdom and sound 
judgment to all civil officers and those in authority. 
So overrule, that peace shall be maintained among 
all nations. Let Thy Kingdom come. Speed the 
glad day when every knee shall bow and every 
tongue confess Him Lord to the glory of God the 
Father. Amen. 

Rev. F. C. McConnell, 
Atlanta, Georgia. 



JUNE TWENTY-FIFTH 191 



The Lord is worthy to be praised. — II Sam. 22 : 23. 

OTHOU Who art the same yesterday, today, and 
forever, as we think back over life, we think 
how many revelations we have had of Thee. Some 
days we were very sure that Thou art infinitely 
kind; some days we have groaned in bitterness. 
On some of the bright mornings of life our hearts 
have sung in spite of us ; and on the black midnights 
our hearts have sunk to despair. Yet, Thou art the 
same Lord; God over all, blessed forever, "Whose 
property is always to have mercy," and Who hast 
never requited us according to our sins, but in wrath 
"hast remembered mercy." Father, we are daring 
to say to our hearts that what Jesus was, Thou art; 
that He unveiled Thee for us. As men, tempted and 
defeated could trust Him, we may trust Thee. As 
women scorned, trusted Him, nor were disappointed, 
women today may trust Thee. As little children 
held out their arms to Him, with the unerring re- 
sponse of childhood to goodness, so the children of 
our homes and hearts may hold out their hands to 
Thee, Who art the Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, 
and of us all. 

Accept our thanks for the days past, and our 
praises for this day, and our heart-full trust for 
the days to be. In the Xame of Christ. Amen. 



George Claeke Peck, D.D., 
Baltimore, Maryland. 



192 JUNE TWENTY-SIXTH 



I pray that thy faith fail not. — Luke 22 : 32. 

OLORD, our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in 
all the earth! Who hast set Thy glory above 
the heavens. How glorious art Thou in all Thy 
attributes; how gracious in all Thy acts! Thou 
openest Thine hand and satisfiest the desire of every 
living thing. Accept our worship and adoration and 
thanksgiving. We make confession of our unworthi- 
ness and unfaithfulness, and humbly beseech Thy 
fatherly forgiveness. We bear before Thee in suppli- 
cation the needs of a lost world, lying in wickedness. 
Pour out upon all people Thy Holy Spirit, that His 
gracious influence may deepen the spiritual life, and 
change the character of those who are without God 
and without hope in the world, transforming them 
into the likeness of the Son of God. Remember this 
family in Thy infinite mercy, that it may be a 
household of faith, and that this may be a home in 
which Thou wilt delight to dwell; and when Thou 
makest up Thy jewels, gather them all without a 
missing one, a whole family in heaven, saved by 
grace. Hear us in this our supplication, and do for 
us not according to our merit, but according to Thy 
mercy, exceeding abundantly, above all that we ask 
or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 
to whom be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus, 
throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. 



Samuel L. Morris, D.D., 
Atlanta, Chx. 



JUNE TWENTY-SEVENTH 193 



I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. 
—Acts 27:25. 

THE night has brought us rest and refreshment 
and renewal of strength and hope, Father. 
The day opens to us its opportunities, and brings 
us its manifold tasks and, it may be, its trials and 
burdens and cares. 

We thank Thee, our Father for the restoration of 
power and courage while we have slept. We trust- 
ingly pray for guidance and enabling for the under- 
takings and employments of the day. 

We seek the direction which shall set us forward 
along right ways, the wisdom which shall cause us 
rightly to choose in every issue, the integrity which 
shall keep us wholly loyal to the truth. 

May no burden be laid upon us beyond our 
strength, and if the trials of the day are to be many, 
grant unto us great patience, constant self-control, 
and the power to keep our tempers and our judg- 
ment. 

Grant that we may suffer no loss of faith in our 
fellowmen, no lessening in our belief of purity and 
goodness, no dimming of our vision of the ideal. 
And bring us at the end of a day of useful labor and 
helpful living to the joy of an unbroken home. Amen. 



Rev. J. Percival Huget, 
Detroit, Michigan. 



194 JUNE TWENTY-EIGHTH 



The Lord hath made known His salvation : His righteous- 
ness hath He openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. He 
hath remembered His mercy and His truth toward the 
house of Israel : all the ends of the earth have seen the 
salvation of our God. — Ps. 98 : 2-3. 



ALMIGHTY GOD and Heavenly Father, Who, 
through Thine only-begotten Son didst sanctify 
the ties of marriage and home, we heartily thank 
Thee for Thy loving care and watchful providence 
over us from the beginning of our lives to this day. 
We praise Thee for all our happinesses and joys; 
for the gifts of affection and sympathy towards one 
another; for any chastening of sorrow or tribulation 
with which Thou hast seen fit to visit us. And we 
beseech Thee to continue Thy gracious goodness to- 
wards us. Give us grace to do our daily duties 
faithfully, as parents or children, as members of 
Thy Church, and as citizens of the nation. Pardon 
all our offences, and make us sorry for them with 
the godly sorrow that worketh repentance unto 
salvation. Comfort the distressed; bless the work of 
the clergy and all other servants of Thy Kingdom. 
Bring the nations into Thy fold, and add the heathen 
to Thy inheritance, so that righteousness and peace, 
truth and justice, fellowship and good-will may 
prevail among men, to the honor and glory of Thy 
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



Bishop Fredebick B. Howden, D.D., 
Albuquerque, New Mexico. 



JUNE TWENTY-NINTH 195 



His faith is counted for righteousness. — Rom. 4 : 5. 

ALMIGHTY Father, Shepherd and Bishop of our 
souls, lift upon us the Light of Thy counte- 
nance. We thank Thee that it is possible for us to 
approach the unveiled mercy seat. We come not in 
our own name, nor do we plead any merit in our- 
selves. Our hope is in Christ, Thy beloved Son, 
crucified for us. He bore our sins in His own body 
on the tree, and by His stripes we are healed. Let 
Thy benediction rest upon this family circle. Help 
us to keep the fire of gratitude and devotion burning 
on Thine altar. Give us grace to overcome evil in 
the day of temptation. Give us courage in the hour 
of adversity, and humility in prosperity. Help us 
to live as in Thy sight; doing Thy will with 
alacrity and cheerfulness. Give wisdom and 
integrity of purpose, we pray Thee, to all those in 
authority over us, that in the administration of 
public affairs they may "do justly, and love mercy." 
We invoke Thy special blessing upon the household 
under this roof, that we may not disappoint Thy 
gracious will concerning us. Bestow Thy heavenly 
grace upon father, mother, and children, so that we 
may be worthy to have a place in the Great Family 
of God, which shall, by and by, enter upon their 
eternal inheritance. Thanks to Thee for victory 
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen, and Amen. 

Thomas F. Dobnblaseb, D.D., 

Chicago, Illinois. 



196 JUNE THIRTIETH 



Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 
— I Tim. 3 : 9. 

WE extol Thee, Lord, our King, as we present 
ourselves before Thee, through the merits of 
Jesus Christ, Who by His cross and precious blood, 
hath redeemed us from our sin. We humbly beseech 
Thee, O merciful Father, to pardon our offences 
against Thee and Thy Holy Law; to create within 
us a clean heart and a right spirit; to cause the 
words of our mouths and the meditations of our 
hearts to be acceptable in Thy sight, Lord, our 
Rock and our Redeemer. We bless Thy Holy Name, 
our Father, for Thy manifold and unceasing good- 
ness unto us. "We owe to Thee the temporal bless- 
ings of our lives, and all the opportunities we have 
for usefulness and happiness. Enable us, by Thy 
Holy Spirit, that we may enjoy and use these, and 
all * Thy good gifts, in a worthy and acceptable 
manner. Be compassionate, God,* toward all the 
suffering, sorrowing, and sinning ones. Be the com- 
forter of the aged, the guide of the young, the wis- 
dom of all who teach, the ruler of all who govern, 
the light of all who are in darkness — the Saviour 
of all mankind. Hasten, Lord, Thy glorious ap- 
pearing, and number us among those who shall 
receive at Thy right hand the crown of glory that 
fadeth not away. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 

Rev. M. C. MacLean, B.A., 

Toronto, Ont., Canada. 



JULY FIRST 197 



O, praise the Lord, all ye nations : praise Him, all ye 
people. For His merciful kindness is great toward us : 
and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye 
the Lord. — Ps. 117 (complete). 



ALMIGHTY GOD, our Father, do Thou accept 
such acknowledgment, devotion, and worship 
as we, with all our limitations are able to bring to 
Thee. Thou knowest that some of us, with the ut- 
most willingness, cannot apprehend Thee at all ac- 
cording to accepted standards. Thou knowest that 
some of Thy most devoted children do most fear- 
fully misapprehend Thee. The best of Thy children 
the world over do but see Thee as in a mirror darkly. 
Therefore, we pray that Thou wilt save us all from 
any pride of spiritual aristocracy, and help us to 
help each other toward the light. Save us from 
contempt and bitterness toward those whose eye of 
faith is not focused like ours, and save those of us 
who cannot see at all from misjudging those who 
can see. Thou hast compelled no man to acknow- 
ledge Thee, but by Thy good providences and graci- 
ous mercies Thou art drawing all men unto Thyself. 
May we, Thy children, go and do likewise; com- 
pelling no man, by sneer or by fear, and winning 
all men by love and by sincerity. Amen. 



Geobge W. Colemax. 
Boston, Mass. 



198 JULY SECOND 



Faithful is He that called you. — I Thess. 5 : 24. 

OGOD, our hope is in Thee. We lift our eyes to 
the hills whence cometh our help. We are 
in the valley where there is darkness; but looking 
up we can see the light of Thy glory on the hill-tops 
above us, and the vision dispels our fears and fills 
us with hope and courage. Fill our hearts with a 
longing for Thee, greater than the longing of those 
who wait for the morning, and grant us that know- 
ledge of Thyself, through Jesus Christ our Lord, that 
Thy presence may be constantly real to us. 

Grant us strength for our tasks, and may we do 
all of our work as in Thy sight, and for Thy glory. 
Make the way of duty and service very plain to us. 
Quicken us in faith and hope and love, and strength- 
en us in all our worthy purposes and desires, and 
make us a blessing to others. 

Keep us from all mistakes or blunders in word 
or act that might bring reproach upon Thy Name 
and Thy cause. Make us quick to see every oppor- 
tunity for service, and faithful to improve it. Cleanse 
us from all sin, perfect us in all goodness, give us 
victory in time of temptation, and make our lives to 
be beautiful with the beauty of God. All of which 
mercies and blessings we ask in the Name and for 
the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 



William Wirt King, D.D., 
St. Louis, Missouri. 



JULY THIRD 199 



As Jesus prayed the heavens were opened. — Luke 3 : 21. 

OLORD our Heavenly Father, as Thou hast 
graciously spared us to the light of another 
morning, accept Thou our glad thanksgiving for this 
and all Thy countless mercies to us. 

Pardon us wherein we have grieved Thee in the 
past. Grant unto us, we humbly beseech Thee, all 
such benefits for body, mind and spirit as Thou seest 
best for us this day. Show us Thy will, and may 
it be our pleasure. 

Impart unto us such faith in Thee that we may 
successfully meet all the testings that await us. 
May ours be the patience, the courage, and the joy 
of those who know Thy love and have learned the 
secret of the Lord. Make Thy blessings to us to 
be, through us, Thy gifts to our world. 

Remember in Thy mercy, our loved ones in their 
especial needs. Comfort and heal the afflicted. Bless 
all who toil. 

Give through Thy Church, salvation to our Nation 
and to all people, and speed the time when earth 
shall be done with evil and over all shall be estab- 
lished the sceptre of Thy Son, our blessed Saviour. 
Am&n. 



John Edward Bushnell, D.D., 
Minneapolis, Minnesota. 



200 JULY FOURTH 



I praise and extol the King of Heaven. — Dan. 4:37. 

OGOD, our Father, we turn to Thee with the 
light of the morning, thankful for Thy 
mercies and trusting in Thy care. We thank Thee 
for the rest of the night, and for the fresh gift of 
daily bread from Thy bounty. We thank Thee for 
the renewal of strength, and for the opportunities of 
service that await us. We thank Thee for the dear 
bonds of family affection and for the counsel and 
comfort of Thy word. Help us, O Lord, this day to 
bear each other's burdens, and to serve Thee by 
serving our fellowmen. Grant us grace for the 
duties of the day. May the spirit of our toil bear 
witness to our faith. Especially we commend to 
Thee all our dear absent ones, wherever they may 
be. Though we see them not, we rejoice that Thine 
eye is upon them, and Thy care enfolds them. May 
our church be a true Household of the Faith. Bless 
our nation. May it uphold the banner of righteous- 
ness. Bless all who labor for the poor and the 
suffering. Be with those who in distant lands pro- 
claim Thy love, and hasten the day when all shall 
know and serve Thee. 

Keep us, Father, through the day, and bring 
us to its close in peace. We ask it all in the name 
of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Charles S. Mills, D.D., A.B., 
Montclair, 2V. J. 



JULY FIFTH 201 



Then He said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart 
to believe all that the prophets have spoken : Ought not 
Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into 
His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, 
He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things 
concerning Himself. And they drew nigh unto the vil- 
lage, whither they went: and He made as though He 
would have gone further. But they constrained Him, 
saying, Abide with us : for it is toward evening, and 
the day is far spent. And He went in to tarry with 
them. Luke 24: 25-29. 



GRANT rest, dear Lord, to the weary; comfort 
to the sorrowing; shelter to the homeless; and 
pillow the head of every sufferer upon Thy everlast- 
ing arms, and gather, Heavenly Father, within the 
shelter of those loving arms the lonely who stand 
in need of Thee, and shed the brightness of Thy 
countenance upon them that in their darkness they 
may see Thy face and so obtain that peace that 
remaineth for the people of God. 

We Thy children ask it for His sake, Jesus Christ, 
our Lord. Amen. 



Rev. Henry C. Stone, 
Philadelphia, Penna 



202 JULY SIXTH 



Jesus answered them, do ye now believe? — John 16 : 31. 

OUR Father, God, we know Thee through Jesus 
Christ our Lord, and we praise Thee for all 
Thy loving kindness and tender mercies. With the 
assurance that Thou wilt never leave nor forsake 
us, we enter upon the duties of a new day. We lift 
our eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh our 
help. 

Direct us in all the way that we should take, in 
view of our great responsibilities and opportunities. 
Help us to earn our bread honestly, but not to be 
so busy as to let the King pass by. May we live 
our day before Thee in all reverence, quietness, love, 
and usefulness. 

Remember our loved ones everywhere. Bless all 
for whom we ought to pray — the sick, the suffering, 
the sinful, God pity them and minister to their 
needs. Let Thy grace be upon every heart lifted up 
in true and simple desire for a better life. 

Bless our nation in all her crises. Give wisdom 
unto our counsellors, and direction to those who lead 
our affairs. 

Bless especially the Church of Jesus Christ, her 
missionaries and ministers, and bring us all to the 
redeemed in glory, through Jesus Christ. Amen. 



J. M. Francis, D.D. 
Sunbury, Pa. 



JULY SEVENTH 203 



Great is Thy faithfulness. — Lam. 3 : 23. 



MAY we never forget to be thankful to Thee, 
our Father. Thou dost daily load us with 
benefits. Thou art continually planning for our 
welfare; yet we are indifferent to Thy great good- 
ness. We pray, and our prayers are answered, but 
we forget often to say, "Thank you." 

Make us more mindful of Thee, of our dependence 
upon Thee, and of Thy readiness to supply all our 
needs. Then may we do more than speak our 
praise; may we live our praise, and show our love to 
Thee by our acts. 

Be present with us in our home. Teach us to trust 
Thee, to listen to Thy Word, to do Thy will. Teach 
us the joy of serving Thee. When doubt disturbs 
us, may we have a vision of Thee that will take 
away all distress. Forbid it that we should darken 
the days of others by doubting words. 

Forgive our sins, and make us more earnest in 
prayers, in gifts, in service. Let our home be a 
center from which blessings go out to neighbors near 
and far. And show us how to live always to the 
praise of Thy Holy Name. Amen. 



John T. Faeis, D.D., 
Philadelphia, Pa. 



204 JULY EIGHTH 



And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, 
if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us : 
And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we 
know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. 
—2 John 5: 14-15. 



OUR Father, it is with reverence we bow to Thee. 
We thank Thee for every blessing of life, for 
we realize that Thou art the Giver of every good and 
perfect gift. We pray that every member of this 
household may realize that God hath a purpose in 
every individual life; may it be the highest ambition 
of our lives to know what God would have us do. 
May the Holy Spirit ever abide with us and direct 
us in all the things Thou hast made it possible for 
us to do. May Thy love for us, as manifested in so 
many ways, constrain us to serve and honor Thee 
our Father. 

Dear Lord, we commit ourselves with all we have 
and are, into Thy loving care, and would ask Thee 
to bless us, keep us, guide us, forgive our sins, and 
finally take us to Thyself with all the redeemed. 
We ask it in Jesus' Name and for His sake. Amen. 



Rev. C. Stubblefield, 
Miami, Oklahoma. 



JULY NINTH 205 



Jesus said, I thank Thee and Praise Thee, O Lord ot 
Heaven. — Matt. 11 : 25. 

OUR, Father, we thank Thee for all Thy gracious 
care, new every morning and continued every 
evening: for life and health; for food and raiment 
and home; for Thy presence which sanctifies and 
blesses all our human relationships. 

May we spend this day as in Thy sight. Keep us, 
we pray, pure in heart and clean in life. Make us 
strong in temptation, brave in danger, patient and 
courageous in sorrow or trial, faithful in every trust. 
Preserve undimmed the light that glows on our home 
altar. Guard our lips, that we may speak no un- 
kind or thoughtless word; our hearts, that we may 
think unselfish and generous thoughts; and our 
hands, that we may help one another. 

If it be best for us, keep us from sickness and 
death, that in gladness we may serve Thee; but if 
misfortune befall us, do Thou draw us close to Thy- 
self and comfort us, that our faith may not fail. 

Bless all homes. Have compassion on the home- 
less. Through human kindness make Thy love 
known to all men, and in mercy grant us a place 
at length in Thy Heavenly home, through Jesus 
Christ, our Lord. Amen. 



Charles W. McCormick, D.D., Ph.D., 
Brooklyn, N. Y. 



206 JULY TENTH 



According to your faith, be it done unto you. — Matt 9 : 29. 

ALMIGHTY GOD, our Heavenly Father, we 
thank Thee for Thy great goodness unto the 
sons of men. We realize that it is in Thee we live 
and move and have our being. We give Thee thanks 
for Thy love which sent into this world One Who is 
its Master — Jesus Christ our Lord. We not only 
thank Thee for Thy Fatherhood, but also for Thy 
Motherhood, for we know that as one whom his 
mother comforteth, so wilt Thou comfort us. We 
look to Thee for strength in our weakness; hope in 
our time of despondency; courage in the fearful 
hour. 

Day after day we are bidden to get us to Cherith, 
only to find the brook is drying up! Continue to 
try our faith, and lend us of that spirit of trust and 
patience that we may hear Thy words, "Get thee to 
Zarephath," where we come face to face with Thy 
availing mercy. Feed us with the bread of Heaven, 
that we may be strong of mind, pure of heart, and 
unselfish in our service, and may the love of Jesus 
Christ so fill our hearts that others will take know- 
ledge of us that we have been with Thee. Help Thou 
us to attain to the character of Thy Son, to in. 
corporate His spirit, and live His life. Amen. 



James A. Fraseb, Ph.D., 
Pittsburgh, Penna. 



JULY ELEVENTH 207 



I thank God. Whom I serve. II Tim. 1 : 3. 

OGOD, Whose paternal goodness is unfailingly 
tender and constant, we unite as a family to 
yield Thee glad and earnest praise and to invoke 
upon our home and all its interests Thy gracious 
and heavenly blessing. Cause us so to realize our 
utter dependence upon Thee and our profound obliga- 
tion toward Thee, that we may submit ourselves 
anew to Thy sovereign sway, live our lives hence- 
forth as in Thine all-searching sight, and consistently 
show ourselves Thine. We bring to Thee at this time 
all who are in any wise related to our home, and 
any who may be attempting to live their lives apart 
from Thee. Suffer none of us to be enticed from 
the path of simplicity, purity, or honor. Keep us 
from every form of secularity and avarice, defend 
us from the seductive snares of vanity and pride, 
and enable us to serve Thee with such undivided 
fidelity in this life that in the life to come we may 
all receive Thine exceeding great reward. And with 
this prayer for ourselves, we beseech of Thee in be- 
half of those without — our neighbors, our friends, 
and all classes and conditions of men — that it may 
please Thee to give them likewise of Thy fatherly 
favor, to further them in all their undertakings and 
relationships, and to bring them with us at length 
into Thine Heavenly household, where we may 
praise Thee ever, world without end. Amen. 

John Bai.com Shaw, D.D., 
Ehnira, New York. 



208 JULY TWELFTH 



The joy of the Lord is your strength. — Neh. 8 : 10. 

OUR Father, help us to find the secret of the 
Master's joy, that we may no longer dwell in 
the outer courts where our happiness comes and 
goes as the flowers bloom and fade. May we enter 
into the secret place of the Most High where He 
lived, until our joy, like His cannot be taken away 
from us. 

Teach us the joy of discovering the tokens of Thy 
presence always — in the song of birds, the fragrance 
of flowers, the marvelous beauty of sunrise and 
sunset, but more in the ringing laughter and plain- 
tive cry of little children, in the deep hunger in the 
hearts of our brothers and sisters, and in our own 
souls, so that we are never alone. 

Teach us the joy of a friendship that leaves no 
hurt nor sting. Help us to enter into the deep joy 
of sympathy with our brother's need, the sympathy 
that gives insight, and knits heart to heart, until 
we are able to help where help is needed, and able 
to receive help when it is offered. Save us, our 
Father, from the darkness of selfishness, and unite 
us with wise and tender love to those who need us, 
and those whom we need. All of this, and more 
which we cannot express, we ask in the Master's 
name. Amen. 



Rev. Raymond C. Brooks, 
Berkeley, California- 



JULY THIRTEENTH 209 



Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors 
through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that 
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor 
powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor 
height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able 
to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ 
Jesus our Lord. — Romans 8 : 37-39. 



ALMIGHTY GOD, our Heavenly Father, in 
Whom we live and move and have our being, 
we render Thee our humble praises for Thy pre- 
servation of us from the beginning of our lives to 
this day; for Thy many mercies we bless and 
magnify Thy glorious Name. And since it is of Thy 
mercy, gracious Father, that another day is 
added to our lives, we here dedicate both our souls 
and our bodies to Thee and Thy service. 

We would remember before Thy Throne of Grace 
all those who are near and dear to us, and all for 
whom we are bound to pray. 

Be merciful to all who are in any trouble, and be 
graciously pleased to take us and all things belong- 
ing to us under Thy Fatherly care and protection 
this day, and forevermore. 

We ask it for Christ's sake. Amen. 



Bishop Ethelbebt Talbot, 
South Bethlehem, Pa. 



210 JULY FOURTEENTH 



I will praise Thee, for Thou hast heard me. — Ps. 118 : 21. 

OUR dear Heavenly Father, reverently do we 
approach Thee, the giver of all good and per- 
fect gifts. We give thanks to Thee for all the bless- 
ings Thou hast so graciously bestowed upon us. 
Thou hast kept us day by day unto this hour. We 
must say that goodness and mercy have followed us. 
We have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. 
For the sake of Jesus do Thou forgive all our sins. 
Wash us in the blood of the Lamb. 

Give us grace to perform every duty in life con- 
scientiously, and in Thy fear, Lord. May we not 
be slothful in business, but fervent in spirit, serving 
the Lord. May our lives be fully consecrated to 
Thy service. Help us to love our neighbors as our- 
selves. Give us the mind of Christ. May we crucify 
the old Adam with all his affections and lusts, so 
that the new man may daily arise within us to live 
before Thee in righteousness and purity. Give us 
grace, dear Lord, to live such lives day by day, that 
when our end shall come we may be prepared to enter 
upon the rest that remaineth for the people of God. 
Grant these blessings unto us, and to all our fellow- 
men, out of the fulness of Thine infinite love and 
mercy, in Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour, and 
for His sake alone. Amen. 



Cone ad Huber, D.D., 
Richmond, Ind. 



JULY FIFTEENTH 211 



I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart : 
and I will glorify Thy Name for evermore. For great 
is Thy mercy toward me : and Thou hc.ot delivered my 
soul from the lowest hell. But Thou, O Lord, art a 
God full of compassion, and gracious, long-suffering, and 
plenteous in mercy and truth. O turn unto me, and have 
mercy upon me; give Thy strength unto Thy servant, and 
save the son of Thine handmaid. — Ps. 86 : 12-13 ; 15-16. 

OUR Heavenly Father, we bow before Thee 
humbly, reverently, and thankfully, for Thou 
art great and holy and good. Forgive our sins for 
Jesus' sake, and by Thy Holy Spirit take away our 
love of sinning that we may be willing and able to 
do Thy will. Make our home life strong in truth 
and righteousness, and beautiful with love, and 
courtesy, and cheerfulness. May these children, like 
Jesus, increase in wisdom and in favor with God and 
man. We thank Thee for the gift of life. May we 
all lay hold on eternal life, which also is Thy gift. 
Show us our work, and make us faithful. Make us 
unselfish, and so helpful to the weak, the tempted, 
the sorrowing, the discouraged, and the lost. Bless 
our country with righteousness. Bring men to the 
new brotherhood in Christ, and clothe Thy Church 
with power, that the Gospel may be preached, and 
Thy Kingdom hastened, through Jesus Christ, our 
Lord. Amen. 



Prof. J. H. Farmer, LL.D., 
Toronto, Canada. 



212 JULY SIXTEENTH 



Let God be magnified, — Ps. 70 : 4. 

OGOD our Father, we earnestly desire in these 
brief moments, to give Thee thanks for all 
the blessings which enter into our lives, and enable 
us thus to come to Thee. According to Thy know- 
ledge of us commune with us, and grant us comfort 
in sadness, guidance in our perplexities, strength for 
all duty, and preservation from all evil. If in any- 
thing — in thought, or word, or deed, we have grieved 
Thee, forgive us, for His sake Who gave Himself 
for us; and wherein we have failed, grant us suffi- 
cient grace that we may fail no more. May Thy Good 
Spirit make Thee so real to us this day, and reveal 
Thee to us as so consciously near, in all that lies 
before us, that when its hours shall have passed 
away forever, there may be left no saddening 
memory of failure. In all these things hear us, O 
Father, for others as well as for ourselves; especially 
for all who are dearest to us, whether close at hand 
or far away. May there come special blessing to 
them, even according to all their real need. We 
beseech Thee to guide and strengthen all who are 
fighting the good fight on behalf of righteousness, 
and have pity on all who seem to be content with 
evil. So do Thou now and ever hear and answer us, 
beyond all our thought, and abide with us even to 
the uttermost, for our Saviour's sake. Amen. 



Frank Ballard, D.D., M.A., 
Sheffield, England. 



JULY SEVENTEENTH 213 



Evening, morning and noon will I pray. — Ps. 55 : 17. 

ABBA, FATHER, trusting in the merits and sav- 
ing grace of Thy Son, our Saviour and Re- 
deerner, Jesus Christ, we come before Thee to ask 
grace and loving mercy during the hours of this 
day. Should temptations assail us, we ask for 
strength to resist them successfully. Should evil 
attack us, may Thy grace strengthen us to fight a 
bold fight for the right. 

May we hold ourselves as valiant soldiers of the 
Cross, thoroughly furnished to all good works. May 
our ears be open to the cry of the weak and suffering, 
and our hearts be ready to respond to every appeal 
from one of Thy suffering ones, and may we be en- 
abled to minister to others in Thy Name, as Thy 
servants. 

Let the close of this day find us in the path of 
dutv, and grant that in rendering loving service to 
others we may realize a blessing as having rendered 
the service to Thee. 

View with compassion our many weaknesses and 
faults, and touch us with a consecrating power that 
we may be able to stand in the evil day, and to 
render worthy and acceptable service as faithful 
servants of Jesus Christ, in Whose Name we ask all 
these blessings. Amen. 



Clarkson Clothier, 
Philadelphia, Pa. 



214 JULY EIGHTEENTH 



Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wis- 
dom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and 
hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your 
hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or 
deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks 
to God and the Father by Him. — Coloss. 3 : 16-17. 

OUR gracious Lord, we thank Thee for those who 
have helped us to know Thee. We bless Thee 
for the revelation of Thy love in eyes of affection 
and arms of tenderness to which our baby hearts 
willingly responded, and for the knowledge of Thy 
law in persuasive suggestion and stern command, to 
which we gave obedience. 

We praise Thee for lips that taught ours to speak 
Thy name in reverence; for love that believed in us, 
and would not let us go; for arms that sheltered 
and sustained us in time of testing; for eyes of 
vision that enabled us to see things invisible, but 
eternal. 

We magnify Thee for lives shining with the glory 
of rectitude and winsomeness; for shoulders divinely 
strengthened to bear another's burden; for hands 
beckoning to the blessedness of sacrificial service. 
Grant unto all these, whether on earth or in the 
Glory Land, to know the joy of our gratitude and 
love, and vouchsafe unto us that it may be ours to 
bless others as we have been so greatly blessed. 
Amen. 



Rev. Frank Otis Erb, Ph.D., 
Portland, Maine. 



JULY NINETEENTH 



215 



Rut the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long- 

Spirit.— Gal. 5 : 22-25. 

HEAVENLY Father, we thank Thee for having 
kept us through the death of sleep and brought 
us to the life of another day. Be with us during the 
hours of this day, and grant us grace to spend them 
profitably. Give us wisdom to know Thy will for 
us and patience and perseverance to fulnl it. 

Grant us the grace of love, and help us with purity 
and discretion to show it forth to our kindred and 
friends and neighbors. Help us to be industrious, 
and so to do our duty as to merit Thy approval. 

We ask Thy care of all the members of this home, 
and Thv blessing upon all for whom we ought to 

prav (especially ). Guard and grant 

our* rulers and spiritual pastors wisdom from above. 
Keep us under Thy watchful providence, that the 
dav mav be spent in Thy presence, without sin, 
and in the service of Him through Whom all bless- 
ings come, our Blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus 
Christ. Amen. 



Bishop Theodore DuBose Bratton, 
Jackson, Mississippi. 



216 JULY TWENTIETH 



Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. 
Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God : 
for unto Thee will I pray. My voice shalt Thou hear 
in the morning, O Lord ; in the morning will I direct 
my prayer unto Thee, and will look up. — Ps. 5 : 1-3. 



GRACIOUS GOD, our Heavenly Father! To call 
Thee by this glorious title is at once to give 
Thee praise, and place ourselves in right relation to 
Thee. To know that Thou art God, and to know that 
the Great God is our loving Father, is to have all 
prayers heard before they are asked. "Before they 
call upon Me, I will answer them"; this is Thy 
promise to us. "I am more willing to hear, than 
they to call," is Thy lament and challenge. Thus 
entreated, we turn trustingly to Thee in every time 
of trouble. Guide us by Thine eye. Build us up 
into Thy likeness. Feed us on Thy love, and keep us 
pure in life and love. Be patient with us in our 
ignorance. Be our knowledge and wisdom, for there 
is none else to whom to go. 

Forgive us all our faults and follies. Help us to 
forgive others as graciously as Thou dost us. We 
place ourselves in Thy care, in Jesus' Name. Amen. 



August Pohlman, M.D., D.D. 
Philadelphia, Penna. 



JULY TWENTY-FIRST 217 



Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who 
shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands, 
and a pure heart ; who hath not lifted up his soul unto 
vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the bless- 
ing from the Lord, and righteousness from, the God of 
his salvation. — Ps. 24 ; 3-5. 



HEAVENLY Father, for all the blessings of the 
night past and for this new day that Thou 
hast given us, we desire now to thank Thee, and 
we pray that as Thou hast given us rest in sleep, so 
now may we serve Thee this day with all the 
strength of the life Thou hast given back to us 
again. Direct us, we pray Thee, in all the work of 
our hands this day, so that in all things we may 
please Thee. Help us to be kind, loving, forgiving, 
and ever watchful lest we offend against Thee in 
word, thought, or deed. 

And while we pray for ourselves, we would not 
forget to pray for those near and dear to us — our 
fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, kindred 
and friends. Bless each and all toward whom our 
hearts turn with a great love, and finally bring us, 
unbroken family circles, to our Father's house above, 
from which we shall go out no more, but shall ever 
be at home with Thee. Amen. 



Llewellyn Bbown, M.A., 
Brantford, Ont., Canada. 



218 JULY TWENTY-SECOND 



This is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for 
many. — Mark 14 : 24. 

(Fob Communion Sunday.) 

WE sing our eucharistic hymn this day, God, 
with voices from which all tones of mortal 
sadness have vanished away. We sing the song of 
new-born life, and not of death. In the beginning 
was the Word and the Word was made flesh, and 
men beheld the glory of Thy love in the face of 
Jesus Christ. 

Come, Creator Spirit blest, and impart anew 
Thy marvelous gifts. May Christ be born again 
in every heart. Purge our ears from the rattling 
noises of the world, until they are quick to hear the 
heavenly song of Thy peace and good-will for men. 
Lead all seekers to some spiritual Bethlehem and 
help them to find the Holy Child. May the nations 
come to His light, and rulers behold the brightness 
of His rising. 

May the kingdoms of the world become the king- 
doms of our Lord and of His Christ, that He may 
rei°rn forever and ever. Amen. 



Oscab Edwabd Maubeb, D.D., 
Neio Haven, Connecticut. 



JULY TWENTY-THIRD 219 



O, how love I Thy law ! it is my meditation all the 
day. Thou through Thy commandments hast made me 
wiser than mine enemies : for they are ever with me. 
I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I 
might keep Thy word. I have not departed from Thy 
judgments : for Thou hast taught me. — Ps. 119 : 97-98 ; 
101-102. 

OUR Father in Heaven, we thank Thee for the 
blessings of another day. Thy mercy is great 
toward us. May the sense of Thy presence be realized 
in each hour, and in the performance of every duty. 
We thank Thee for Thy word, a lamp to our feet, 
a guide to our path. Reveal Thy will to us through 
it, and enlighten us by Thy Holy Spirit, we pray 
Thee in Jesus' Xame Almighty God! before Whom 
every knee must bow, we pray Thee on behalf of 
those who in Christian countries, are living without 
Thee, in rebellion against Thee, and bowing down 
their lives to worship according to the work of man, 
or any temptation of the evil one. Prosper, we pray 
Thee, the efforts of Thy servants who are "set 
apart" for the "ministry of the Word", and especially 
of those who are being used to let the light shine 
in the darkness of heathenism. Hear us as we pray 
on behalf of suffering humanity! Bless the innocent 
who suffer with the guilty, and grant us all Thy 
peace this day. In Jesus' Name. Amen. 



Rev. H. W. Weight, B.A., 
Smith Falls, Ont., Canada. 



220 JULY TWENTY-FOURTH 



Seek the Loxl and His strength. — Ps. 105 : 4. 

MOST gracious God, our Heavenly Father, 
source of every blessing, giver of every good 
and perfect gift, we adore Thee; we praise Thee; 
we magnify Thy Holy Name. Every day we receive 
new proofs of Thy care over us, new pledges of Thy 
love and favor. Thou hast made bountiful provision 
for all our physical needs; the seasons come and go, 
the sun shines, the rain falls, the harvests never 
fail : we have homes and friends ; for all these things 
help us to be truly grateful. Help us to be no less 
thankful for that ''bread which came down out of 
heaven/' for the ever-flowing fountains of living 
water, for that home not made with hands, for that 
Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. We 
remember with affectionate sympathy all kinds and 
conditions of men — the poor, the destitute, and him 
that hath no helper. 

Do Thou bless our home. May it ever be Thy 
dwelling place. Be Thou in our midst, O Lord. May 
Thy angels encamp round and about us, and keep 
us in all Thy ways. And when our race has been 
run, and our work done, receive us into the everlast- 
ing habitations. Our sins have been many; we con- 
fess them ; we repent of there ; do Thou forgive them 
all. In the Name of Him Who loved us and gave His 
life for us. Amen. 



P. W. Snyder, D.D., 
Pittsburgh, Pa. 



JULY TWENTY-FIFTH 221 



Whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him. — I John 3 : 22. 

OGOD, our Heavenly Father, by Whose good 
hand upon us we are brought to see the light 
of a new day, and to enter upon its duties, we lift 
up our hearts to Thee, praising Thee for Thy con- 
tinued goodness. We humble ourselves before Thee, 
Holy Majesty, confessing that we are unworthy to 
receive anything from Thee. We have sinned against 
Thee daily, in thought, word, and deed, yet Thou 
hast been long-suffering to us, and hast borne with 
our shortcomings. Grant unto us true repentance, 
and Thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love 
Thee and worthily magnify Thy Holy Name, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. 

As we address ourselves to the reponsibilities of 
another day, we beseech Thee for the wisdom that 
is profitable to direct. Hold up our goings that our 
footsteps slip not, and bestow upon us needful energy 
of body and mind for the efficient discharge of the 
duties of our calling. While diligent in business, 
may we be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Do- 
ing justly, loving mercy, may we walk humbly with 
Thee, our God. 

These mercies we ask. with the forgiveness of our 
sins, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our only Lord 
and Saviour. Amen. 



Robeet Campbell, D.D., 

Montreal, Canada. 



222 JULY TWENTY-SIXTH 



Thou wast a God that forgavest them. — Ps. 99 : 8. 



FATHER, Thou forgivest us, so far as we are truly 
penitent. May we likewise forgive all who sin 
against us; all who sin against society; all who 
sin against Thee; even as Thou forgivest us and 
them. May we count no sin too heinous to pardon; 
no man too hardened to reclaim; no woman too 
fallen to uplift. When we forgive the penitent, 
help us to stand by him against a hard and unfor- 
giving world. Thus may we make our forgiveness a 
reality in the world, and open the door of genuine 
social restoration to those who have gone astray. 

Help us to find our chief delight in work, where- 
in we join our hands, our brains, our hearts, to Thy 
power, Thy laws, Thy love. May we choose that 
task which most taxes our highest powers, and best 
serves the world's deepest need. May we do it with 
such skill, such thoroughness, such joy, that it shall 
have about it the strength of the mountains, the 
freedom of the streams, the gladness of the sunshine, 
the fertility of the fields, the beauty of the stars and 
flowers. Thus may we become not mere creatures, 
but creators; not one of Thy works, but Thy co- 
workers. Amen. 



Wiluam DeWitt Hyde, D.D., LL.D., 

Brunsicick, Maine. 



JULY TWENTY-SEVENTH 223 



The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all 
those that be bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon 
Thee ; and Thou givest them their meat in due season 
Thou openest Thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of 
every living thing. The Lord is nigh unto all them that 
call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth. — Ps. 
145: 14-16, 18. 

OLOKD, Heavenly Father, Who knowest our 
proneness to forget Thee in the busy rush of 
life, and while health and success attend us, but 
^yho art our ever prompt refuge and defence in 
times of illness, bitter grief and failure, we ask Thy 
forgiveness for our want of gratitude, and selfish 
lack of filial affection. We are of the earth, earthy, 
unworthy of our Heavenly parentage, and yet we 
are Thy children. We do not mean to be disobedient 
or unmindful of Thy mercies. It is only because Thy 
care and oversight has been constant from our 
earliest childhood that we sometimes presume on it, 
and fail to remember Thy tenderness. As we recall 
the past, make us braver for the future. May we 
trust even when we cannot trace the reason of* Thy 
Providence. Give us godliness with contentment, 
and in all the chances and changes of mortal life 
make us patient and prayerful, and may the peace of 
God which passeth human understanding be ours in 
such measure as we can receive it. We ask it all for 
the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 



Bishop James Henry Darlington, D.D., 
Harrisburg, Penna. 



224 JULY TWENTY-EIGHTH 



I will praise Thee with my whole heart : before the gods 
will I sing praise unto Thee. I will worship toward Thy 
holy temple, and praise Thy Name for Thy loving kind- 
ness and for Thy truth : for Thou hast magnified Thy 
word above all Thy Name. — Ps. 138 : 1-2. 



DEAR Father, we thank Thee for a restful night, 
for sleep, and for Thy care. Now we look to 
Thee for a blessing as we begin a new day. May we 
pass through it without hurt, or sickness or death. 

May we not fail in doing our work; in everything 
may we remember Thee, and honor Thee in our 
words as Avell as our acts. Give us love for Thee in 
our hearts, and perfect trust that Thou wilt direct 
us, and bring to pass what is for our good. Supply 
as with everything needful, and make us happy in 
Thy love. Bless Thy people everywhere, and help 
the missionaries and ministers in their work, that 
all who dwell upon this earth may soon learn of 
Jesus Christ and His love and desire to save them. 
Give help to those in want, and strength to the weak. 
Remember all who are dear to us, according to their 
needs. And forgive all our sins for the sake of 
Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen. 



William C. Stoeveb, 
Philadelphia, Pa. 



JULY TWENTY-NINTH 225 



Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where 
moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break 
through and steal : But lay up for yourselves treasures 
in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and 
where thieves do not break through nor steal : For where 
your treasure is, there will your heart be also. — Matt. 
6: 19-21. 

OUR gracious Father, we would take account of 
this day in Thy presence. It is Thy gift to us 
— new, and speaking of Thine unfailing care; clean, 
and mav we keep it so, and return it to Thee so 
filled that the day may be pleasing to Thee, an 
honor to our living Lord, and a help to those with 
whom we live and work. Grant us some new mani- 
festation of Thyself today; some deeper experience of 
Thy grace; a clearer vision of our field of service, 
and more joy in its work. May we have a real in- 
clination to our duty, and an honest preference for 
Thy will. So may our fellowship with Thee be un- 
broken today. We commit ourselves and friends, 
with our needs and anxieties, to Thy faithful keep- 
ing. Therefore may we be glad and free from care. 
May the day come soon when all the earth shall seek 
its 'refuge in Thee. Forgive our sins, and make us 
more like our Master— sensitive and strong, unselfish 
and true, for His Name's sake. Amen. 



Rev. Emory W. Hunt, 
Newton Centre, Mass. 



226 JULY THIRTIETH 



God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 
— Rom. 12 : 3. 

OUR Father, Ave thank Thee that Christ hath led 
us to Thee, and now in His name we pray for 
Thy perfect blessing. 

Refresh us with Thy joyous strength. We humbly 
await Thy Spirit's work in us and through us. 
Cleanse our hearts and free our lives from every 
defiling and hindering thing. Fashion us into the 
Master's mind and habit. Lift our thoughts from 
self to the needs of ethers. Give us to see the fields 
of humanity white to harvest. Lay heavy burdens 
of toil upon us, and give us the joy of the reaper in 
the sure wages of the Kingdom. 

May we give in running-over measures, so that 
those who receive shall become generous also. May 
we so rebuke ourselves without mercy — and others in 
love — that we and they shall be glad to correct our 
ways. Provide for our real needs out of Thy un- 
wasted fulness. Keep us so near to Thee that we 
may know the joyful sound and walk in the light of 
Thy countenance. And whenever we are allowed to 
choose our topic, may we triumphantly present Jesus 
to those with whom we walk and talk. And now as 
we go forth or stay in, may we have the grace of 
God from the God of Peace, through Jesus Christ 
our Lord and Saviour. Amen. 



Herbert Judson White, D.D., 
Hartford, Connecticut. 



JULY THIRTY-FIRST 227 



Jesus saith, have faith in God. — Mark 11 : 22. 

OUR Father Who art in Heaven, we come into 
Thy presence with full hearts to thank Thee 
for Thy many mercies: first of all, that Thou dost 
permit us to call Thee "Father," and that out of 
Thy tender compassion Thou art ever ready to re- 
ceive us in love, and to help us to overcome the evil 
in our natures. We thank Thee for Thy wonderful 
provision — "Whosoever will may come and take of 
the water of life freely," and that the "whosoever" 
includes us, and that we know that when we 
approach Thee in a spirit of repentance, we are not 
turned away. Father, may we catch a clearer 
vision of what Thou art willing to do for us. Grant 
that we may ever be ready to respond to Thy call to 
bear Thy message to others, and may we be able 
to bring to someone a definite conception of Thee and 
Thy love. May each of us be a willing instrument 
in Thy hands for the advancement of Thy Kingdom, 
and we pray Thee to grant us an open mind toward 
the daily opportunities for helping our fellowmen. 
May the love of self be withdrawn from our hearts, 
to be replaced by a full portion of love to Thee. 
May the time soon come when all the world shall 
know Thee in the forgiveness of sin. Amen. 



Edwin "R. Graham, 
Chicago, Illinois. 



228 AUGUST FIRST 

Save with Thy right hand and hear me. — Ps. 60 : 5. 

THE All-Wise and Ever-Living Father: We have 
been called to the consciousness of another day. The 
sunshine and the flowers and the singing of the birds 
summon us to worship at Thy footstool. Thou hast 
placed us in a beautiful world where we are refreshed 
by the songs of the winged messengers and the fra- 
grance of the flowers. "The heavens declare the glory 
of God, and the firmament showeth forth Thy handi- 
work." We come, with all our shortcomings and un- 
worthiness. We have sinned against much light, 
and deserve to be cast from Thy presence, but thank 
Thee for Thy love and longsuffering toward us. Help 
us to realize that religion is not a mere cloak that 
may be worn and laid aside at will. Grant that we 
may be spared the idle wasting of God's time, but 
that we may engage in worthy enterprise, with an 
eye single to Thy glory. Have mercy, Lord, upon 
those who are rejecting Thy Word, and may the Christ 
find a place in their hearts and lives, may they come 
to know Him as their personal Saviour. Let Thy 
truth, like a snarp two-edged sword, cut its way 
home to the inner nature, and arouse the slumbering 
conscience and stir the will to action. Grant Thy 
forgiveness for our transgressions. Blessed be the 
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath 
blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly 
places in Christ, Who rules and reigns forevermore. 
A men. 

Rev. John J. Ross, 
Cincinnati. Ohio. 



AUGUST SECOND 229 



Pray to thy Father, which seeth in secret.— Matt. 6 : 6. 

OTTR Heavenly Father, we bow ourselves before 
Theflnd humbly pray Thee that Thou wilt help 
us to remember all this day our dependence upon 
Thee Give unto us a vision of the upward pathway. 
Make us conscious of Thy holy presence. 

Guard us from all enticements to do wrong Enli- 
ven our consciences with Christian truth, that we be 
not deceived by error. Fill us with love and gi e 
nnto us a disposition like that of our Master. Help 
us in all our toil to serve Thee. 

Bear Thou our burdens with us. By Thy grace 
teach us to seek first Thy kingdom and nghteous^ 
nes« Work Thou in us the courage of faith, and the 
peaVe of trust. Through Thy Holy Spirit pervade 
our home with gracious kindness. 

AmmdLtly bless our friends, our m nister, and our 
Church And "whether we eat or drink or whatso- 
ever we do, may we do it all to the glory of Thy 

^is^wTask with the forgiveness of our sins of 
which we repent, through our Lord and Saxiour, 
Jesus Christ. Amen. 



Ralph W. Bbokaw, D.D., 
TJtica, A 7 . Y. 



230 AUGUST THIRD 



It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in 
man. — Ps. 118 : 8. 

GREAT God of Hosts, Who reigns above and in 
our hearts, for all the gracious favors of today 
which bless and strengthen us, we give Thee thanks. 
Let not our gratitude be limited to words, but be 
expressed in every impulse, thought and deed, and 
serve to draw us nearer to Thee; for we desire to 
praise Thee with our lives and not alone with suppli- 
ant words. 

Our weakness and faults, which ofttimes grow to 
errors and misdeeds, forgive — nay, cover them with 
Thine eternal love. Restore our wills, too prone to 
bend to sinful things which we give place to in our 
lives. Cleanse all our thoughts and plant the seeds 
of righteousness within our minds. Uproot from in 
our hearts the tendency toward wrong or selfish in- 
terest or pride, and put instead the love of truth and 
a yearning for a Christlike life with knowledge to 
attain it. 

Should trials come, Jesus, be Thou near; encour- 
age with Thy presence, strengthen with Thy power. 
If temptations come, fill our hearts with holy and 
heroic resolution that we will yield ourselves to Thee 
and not to them; and may tomorrow find us still 
drawing nearer, Lord, to Thee. This we ask for 
Jesus' sake. Amen. 



Rev. S. Clabk Rikeb, 
Cincinnati, Ohio. 



AUGUST FOURTH 231 



Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do. 
—John 14 : 13. 

THOU, God, art our Father. We are the chil- 
dren of eternal love. Help us, we pray Thee, to 
live our lives in Thy sight. Let nothing unworthy 
claim our hearts, and may we find in Thy will our 
peace. 

We pray that Thy likeness may be formed in us, 
and that our lives may abound in the love and peace 
and joy of Thy Holy Spirit. Help us to love Thee 
with a pure heart fervently, and to love those who 
love Thee and are loved by Thee. 

Bless, we pray Thee, all for whom we should pray. 
We name their names in the silence of our hearts. 
Pity the ungrateful, the wayward, the wanderer. 
Comfort the lonely and the desolate. Let Thy peace 
rule in our hearts and in our home. Whoni have we 
in heaven but Thee, and there is none upon the earth 
that we desire but Thee. 

When we stumble, may Thy strength support us, 
Thy wisdom lead us, Thy love redeem us. Open our 
hearts to receive Thee, the Divine Gue3t, into the 
home of our souls, and may we hold fellowship with 
Thee as we walk the path of life. We ask all in 
Jesus' name. Amen. 



Hugh Thomson Kerr, D.D., 
Pittsburqh, Penna. 



232 AUGUST FIFTH 

I will not leave you comfortless. — John 14 : 18. 

OGod, our Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for 
Thy love and wisdom and power and grace and 
mercy. Thou hast put an infinite longing for Thee 
in our hearts. In Thy absence we feel our orphanage. 
We have aspirations which Thou alone can satisfy. 
We have sins which Thou alone can cleanse. We have 
infirmities which burden and shame us without Thy 
help and strength and forgiveness. We thank Thee 
for Thy forgiving love, Thy protecting care, Thy com- 
forting presence. We beseech Thee to direct us in all 
the ways of life ; give us guidance in our perplexities, 
strength in weakness, comfort in sorrows, inspiration 
in despondencies, and courage in our battles of life. 
Give us patience in hard labor. May we not become 
weary in w r ell-doing. May we be real representatives 
of the Christ w T e confess and profess. Thou knowest 
our sorrows and bereavements and trials. Sanctify 
them to our highest spiritual good. Put into our 
souls the psalm of love. May it dominate our lives, 
and express itself in every Christlike attitude and 
spirit in all the relations of life. Let the Holy Spirit 
dwell within us. In the midst of the sorrows that 
tend to embitter and the burdens that oppress, get 
under us with the mighty arms of Thy love, and lift 
us up into conscious communion with Thee. Help us, 
lather, to be willing to enter doors of usefulness 
that open daily. May we be faithful to Thee and our 
fellows. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. 
Amen. 

G. M. Matthews, D.D., 
Dayton, Ohio. 



AUGUST SIXTH 233 



And very early in the morning the first day of the -week, 
they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 
And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away 
the stone from the door of the sepulchre? * * * He is 
risen. — Mark 16 : 2-3. 

(For Sunday Morning.) 

FOR the light of this Holy Sabbath Day, with its 
recurring privileges and blessings, our God, we 
thank Thee. For the gracious memories that it stirs 
within our hearts that on the first day of the week 
Christ Jesus arose from the dead, we give Thee praise. 
For the gracious hope that it revives within our 
spirit that there remaineth a rest, keeping of the 
Sabbath, for the people of God, we would call upon 
our souls and all that is within us to praise and 
bless and magnify Thy Holy Xame. We pray Thee 
that Thou wilt make straight paths for our feet this 
day, and help us to walk therein. Do Thou bless us 
in the worship of Thy house and in the quiet medita- 
tion of our homes. Make this a day of rest and glad- 
ness to our hearts. Grant that it may be a great 
day in Thy Zion, a day marked by the ingathering of 
many precious souls out of darkness into the marvel- 
ous light and liberty of the Gospel of Christ. And 
now unto Him Who is able to keep us from falling 
and to present us faultless before the presence of His 
glory, with exceeding joy, to the only wise God, our 
Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, 
both now and ever. Amen. 

Henry H. Sweets, D.D., 
Louisville, Kentucky. 



234 AUGUST SEVENTH 



Like as a father pitieth His children, so the Lord pitieth 
them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame : He re- 
membereth that we are dust. * * * But the mercy of the 
Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that 
fear him.— Ps. 103 : 13, 14, 17. 



DEAR Father, Thou hast given us the great gift of 
a new day. May it be unto us a Father's house 
of love where we shall serve, not as slaves, but as 
freemen; not as strangers, but as friends; not as 
aliens, but as sons and heirs. 

As children come to their mothers when wearied, 
or conscience-smitten, or grieved by their fellows, so 
may we come to Thee in any hour of need. As the 
confidence and love of our parents gives us strength 
for duty, much more may the knowledge of Thy con- 
fidence and Thy love for us enable us to bear each 
burden and trample each temptation under foot. 

And may we have such intimate companionship 
this day with Thy Son, our Saviour, that truth and 
cleanness and gentleness and hope shall abide in us 
until the twilight falls, and we lie down to sleep 
again beneath the shadow of Thy wings. Amen. 



Daniel Russell, D.D., 
New York City, 2s. T. 



AUGUST EIGHTH 235 



He is their help and their shield. — Ps. 115 : 9. 

OLORD, our Father in Heaven, we thank Thee for 
our home, its mercies, its joys, its shelter, and 
its peace. Help us to be Thy children in our home, 
and make it like the home in Bethany, where Christ 
loved to go. Help us this day to bear one another's 
burdens. May we be burden-bearers, and not burden- 
makers. Help us to practice the Golden Rule, to do 
unto others as we would have them do unto us. Give 
us Thy grace that we may control our tempers and 
our tongues. May Thy blessing, Lord and Master, 
be with those who stay at home to work today, and 
may they glorify their tasks by cheerful spirits. Bless 
those of our home who go out for business, and help 
and prosper them. Keep them from temptation, and 
may they always remember that a good name is bet- 
ter than great riches. Let integrity and upright- 
ness preserve them. Bless the children at school; 
give them diligence, application and ambition in their 
studies; keep them from evil communications and 
comradeships. Bless the children who are at home. 
May their play be innocent and bright. May the 
love of Christ which moved Him to die for our sin3 
crucify in every one of us worldliness of life, and 
may we all be faithful, spiritual members of the 
Church. May this home honor God in public wor- 
ship, and claim the promise, "Them that honor Me, 
I will honor." Forgive us for our sins, and give us 
the forgiving spirit, for Jesus* sake. Amen. 

John Van Lear, D.D., 
Little Rock, Arkansas. 



236 AUGUST NINTH 

I have laid help upon One that is mighty. — Ps. 89 : 19. 

OGOD, our Father, we believe in Thee; we believe 
that Thou art, and that Thou art a rewarder of 
all them that diligently seek Thee. Therefore we ven- 
ture confidently to come before Thee in prayer, through 
Jesus Christ our Redeemer. We but dimly compre- 
hend and but partly understand Thy greatness, Thy 
perfection of being and character, and are keenly 
conscious of our limitations, imperfections and sins. 
But we feel the need of Thee ; Thou art a necessity to 
us. Without Thee we cannot live, and without Thee 
we dare not die. Therefore we turn to Thee as the 
flowers in springtime turn toward the sun, as the 
rivers carve their courses through the hills to iind 
their home in the sea, for "Thou hast made us for 
Thyself, God, and our spirits cannot rest until they 
rest in Thee/' We pray Thee, pour the treasures of 
Thy love and life into our poor souls. We search for 
Thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is. 
We are glad with unending joy if we may but be near 
Thee. Steady Thou our staggering faith, clarify our 
vision, intensify our desire to be free from all that is 
sin in Thy sight. Bring us into harmony with Thy- 
self, Thy purpose, Thy life. Create in* us a clean 
heart, God, and renew a right spirit within us. 
Save us from narrowness and selfishness. Bless us 
and make us a blessing. May we not be reservoirs, 
but channels through which Thy grace may flow into 
other lives that pant for Thee. All this we humbly 
ask in the name of Jesus. Amen. 

Bishop Samuel P. Spreng, 
Naperville, Illinois. 



AUGUST TENTH 237 



O taste and see that the Lord is good. — Ps. 34 : 8. 

OLORD, our Father, help us to begin this day with 
worthy thoughts of Thee. Thy mercies are new 
unto us every morning, and call for new expressions 
of gratitude. We slept, and awoke, and lo! Thou art 
still with us. Let the same power and goodness 
which have been over us during the night attend us 
during this day. We are weak and ignorant, and 
given to thoughtlessness and vanity. Be Thou our 
light and our guide, our shield and our protector. 

Bless our home and family, and make love and 
peace and kindness dwell in our midst. Visit us, we 
pray Thee, with Thy salvation, and grant us what- 
ever is necessary for body and soul. 

Defend us from all harm and evil this day. Help 
us to overcome the power of sin in our own lives, and 
to subdue the unlawful desires of body and mind. 

Remember with Thy grace and favor the sick and 
the hungry, the helpless and the homeless. Have 
mercy upon the prisoner and the criminal, the hea- 
then and the unbeliever. 

Encourage and support by Thy wisdom and power 
Thy holy Church, that she may bring in speedily the 
full victory of Thy Kingdom, through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. Amen. 



C. E. Creitz, D.D., 
Reading, Penna. 



238 AUGUST ELEVENTH 

Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. — Luke 6 : 37. 

WITH grateful hearts, our Father, we humbly 
bow around this family altar. We are Thy chil- 
dren. We confess our sins and acknowledge Thy lov- 
ing kindness and tender mercies. Forgive us our sins 
and create in us forgiving hearts. Make us as wil- 
ling to forgive as we are to be forgiven. Enlarge 
upon us Thy loving kindness and encircle us with Thy 
unwearied compassion. 

Broaden our sympathies, and save us from selfish- 
ness. Open our ears to the cry of our next door 
neighbor and to the call of the man of Macedonia. 
Multiply our opportunities for doing good and conse- 
crate our energies to Thy service. \Varm our hearts 
to respond to the needs of our fellow-man, and make 
us messengers of strength and comfort to the dis- 
couraged and broken-hearted. Fill us with Thy 
Spirit, energize us with Thy love, and use us to Thy 
glory. Continue to beautify our lives with Thy bless- 
ings, strengthen us in the hour of our temptation, 
and sustain us when we pass through the valley of 
deep darkness. And now, Father, we thank Thee for 
everything that makes us better children of Thine; 
for everything that makes us more beloved of Thee, 
and more useful in the world ; for our home, our fam- 
ily and the Church. But above all, we thank Thee 
for Thy Son, our Saviour, in Whose name we pray. 
Amen. 

Rev. Ira M. Bo swell, 
Georgetown, Kentucky. 



AUGUST TWELFTH 239 



I will instruct thee and teach thee in the -way which thou 
shalt go.— Ps. 32 : 8. 

WE praise Thy name, our Father, that Thou hast 
again brought us to the sweet consciousness of 
life and to a realization of Thy divine grace and lov- 
ing favor. We are grateful to Thee for all the mer- 
cies so abundantly bestowed upon us through Thy 
Son. Grant unto us this day Thy watch-care and 
guidance, that we may in nothing offend Thee or bring 
reproach upon Thy name. 

May we, by the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit, be 
led into that truth which will enable us to glorify 
Thee in our lives. Keep our minds from error and 
our hearts from sin. May all our thoughts be true, 
our loves be pure, and our actions right before Thee. 
Give unto us and ours the things necessary for our 
temporal comfort and our spiritual good. Bless 
Thou the toil of our hands and make it abound to the 
welfare of our fellow-men and to Thine own glory. 
Help us to be ever conscious of the presence and fel- 
lowship of Thy dear Son, our Saviour and our Friend. 

Comfort, we pray Thee, those who are in sorrow. 
Strengthen those who are weak. Be Thou beside the 
beds of suffering, to ease pain, strengthen courage and 
inspire hope. We ask all in the name of Him Who 
dwelleth in our hearts through faith. Amen. 



Rev. Daniel McGuex, 
Cincinnati, Ohio. 



240 AUGUST THIRTEENTH 



And they continued* steadfastly * * * in prayer. — Acts 2 : 42, 



GRACIOUS Lord, we bring Thee anew this day the 
praise of our lips and the worship of our hearts. 
We bless Thee for the care of our bodies, for the 
guarding of our minds, and for the delight of our 
awakened spirits in Thyself. We confess we have not 
merited even the least of Thy mercies, and yet our 
lives are crowned each day with unnumbered tokens 
of Thine infinite love. Wilt Thou beget within us a 
new humility, a deepened sense of our dependence, 
and a fuller surrender to Thy will. 

Give us the peace which springs from a constant 
sense of Christ's infinite sacrifice; give us the sanc- 
tity of a life which is the fruit of His indwelling; 
give us the power through Thy Holy Spirit to serve 
and honor Thee. 

Help us to walk in a spirit of constant prayer, to 
increasingly delight in Thy Holy Word, to love one 
another, and to have some part in bringing the light 
of the Gospel to those in darkness. In the midst of 
the confusion and stress of earth, may our souls rest 
in Thine own perfect calm, and may we be able to 
comfort those in trouble with the comfort wherewith 
we are comforted of God. We ask all in Jesus' name. 
Amen. 



Hugh R. Muneo, 

New York City, N. T. 



AUGUST FOURTEENTH 241 



Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and 
the faith of Jesus. — Rev. 14 : 12. 



OGOD, our Heavenly Father, Thou hast been good 
and gracious to us. In the morning Thou gavest 
us a day, each minute to be used in service to Thee and 
to humanity. Help us to use each of these minutes, O 
Lord, to Thy name's honor and glory and to the ad- 
vancement of Thy cause and kingdom. At the close 
of the day may we return all of the hours just as 
sacred and holy as they were when given to us at 
early dawn. 

We thank Thee for Thy love and protection. Thy 
gracious love is so boundless and unlimited that it 
has overshadowed us and sheltered us from all harm 
and danger. Thy heart of love includes us in its 
beatings, and so we are grateful to Thee. 

Thou art our Friend, Jehovah of hosts. Thou 
hast been with us through thick and thin. When 
other supposed friends were deserting us, Thou didst 
abide with us as a Friend that sticketh closer than a 
brother. We seem to hear Thee speaking to us now. 
Yes, Thou art so very near and Thou wilt surely keep 
and protect us through the night. Accept these our 
petitions this hour, we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen. 



Rev. G. Frank Burns, 
Cincinnati, Ohio. 



242 AUGUST FIFTEENTH 



Look not every man on his own things, but every man 
also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, 
which was also in Christ Jesus : Who being in the form of 
God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. — Phil. 
2 : 4-6. 



OGOD, we come to Thee because Thou art in Thy- 
self all that we desire to become in ourselves. 
We are weak, but Thou art strong; we come seeking 
Thy strength. We are sinful but Thou art holy, and 
we come seeking Thy holiness. We are ignorant but 
Thou art wise, and we come seeking Thy wisdom. 

Bless us, that we may be in our characters what 
Thou art in Thine, pure and holy. Aid us, that we 
may be in our hearts what Thou art in Thine, good 
and righteous. Help us, that we may in our lives 
be what Thou art in Thine, kind and generous. All 
that Thou art, we pray that thus we may become, so 
that we can think Thy thoughts after Thee, walk in 
the steps of the One Who went about doing good, and 
so live that our wills may be brought into harmony 
with Thy divine purpose, and our lives conformed to 
Thy eternal righteousness. 



W. W. Bustabd, D.D., 
Cleveland, Ohio. 



AUGUST SIXTEENTH 243 



This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our 
faith. — I John 5 : 4. 

ALMIGHTY and most merciful Jehovah, the Father 
of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who art worthy of the 
praises of all the children of men, be pleased to hear 
our prayers this day. Holy art Thou, and may all 
Thy creatures worship and adore Thee. May we who 
dwell in this house truly fear and love and trust in 
Thee above all things. We bless Thee for all Thy 
goodness and tender mercies, especially for the gift 
of Thy dear Son and for the Bible, the revelation of 
Thy will and grace. 

Our lives, though unworthy, have been precious in 
Thy sight. Thou hast provided for our bodies every 
needed blessing. Thou dost feed our souls upon the 
Bread of Life so long as we humbly seek salvation 
through Jesus the Messiah. Continue Thy blessings 
to us. 

Overshadow us with Thy mercy. Empty us of all 
pride. Forgive our sins. Implant Thy Word in us 
that we may bring forth fruit by patient continu- 
ance in well doing. 

Graciously deliver us from sickness, fire, want and 
trouble. Help us to lay to heart Thy Fatherly chas- 
tenings that we may judge ourselves and amend our 
ways. These and all needed benefits we ask only 
through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Rev. H. F. Obestatjf, 
Pitcairn, Penna. 



244 AUGUST SEVENTEENTH 



For the Lord God is a sun and shield ; the Lord will 
give grace and glory ; no good thing will He withhold from 
them that walk uprightly. — Ps. 84 : 11. 



LORD, we thank Thee for the blessings of the day 
that is gone. We were guarded and guided at 
every step, and not a single good thing was withheld 
from us. We pray Thy forgiving mercy as we begin 
the duties and face the dangers of this new day. 
Cleanse us in Thy blood; comfort us with Thy pres- 
ence; strengthen us with Thy power, and help us like 
little children to put our hand in Thine and be led 
by Thee all the day through. 

Deepen the gratitude of our hearts, and help us to 
lean upon Thy bosom as John leaned upon the bosom 
of his Lord. 

May we be busy today that we may be blessed of 
Thee, and become a blessing to others. We pray for 
all the world, every man and woman, but especially 
for those near and dear to us by the ties of nature. 
Bless our family, and make it so happy and pure that 
the angels, our guardian spirits, may find within its 
walls an atmosphere akin to that of heaven. Amen. 



Rev. M. M. Davis. 
Dallas, fexa» 



AUGUST EIGHTEENTH 245 



How shall He not with Him * * * freely give us all 
things. — Rom. 8 : 32. 

OGOD, our Father, we thank Thee that we may 
come to Thee. Though Thou art holy, and we 
know how unfit we are to present ourselves before 
Thee, yet, our Saviour, Thy sufferings and death 
for us give us the precious knowledge that Thou dost 
love and will forgive us. We thank Thee that we 
may come so freely and tell Thee all that is in our 
hearts. We are deeply conscious of our weakness; 
we pray for strength and power. Many times we fail 
to do what we should; help us to make our lives use- 
ful and helpful to others. 

Thou knowest, too, how many things fall to our 
hands to do; in the midst of it all, give us sweet 
hours of quiet and repose, keep us from becoming 
anxious or complaining. We ask for a trust in Thee 
that will still the soul and help us to see that Thou 
art in all our lives. Lord, Thou hast been so much 
to us, we want all the world to know Thee; help us 
ever to use Thy blessings that of those near and far 
away, some may be led to know and to love Thee. 
Help us to so live that our lives shall be a testimony 
of our love for Thee and thankfulness to Thee, for 
Jesus' sake. Amen. 



Rev. Jacob W. Kapp, 

Cincinnati. Ohio. 



246 AUGUST NINETEENTH 



Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. 
— Heb. 12:2. 



FATHER, whenever we kneel in the quiet of the 
hour of prayer, the wonder of Thy love enthralls 
us. We are thrilled by the memory of Calvary; we 
marvel at the mercy which forgives sin; we are filled 
with awe at the thought of the goodness which has 
followed us all the days of our life. 

But we find it hard to keep our hearts aglow when 
we arise from our knees and go forth to face the 
stress and the strife, the disappointments and the 
heartbreak of our common life. Then we are prone 
to forget Thy love. Oh, help us each day, the bitter- 
est as well as the brightest, to have so vibrant a 
sense of Thee that we shall act as those who are 
holden by the spell of an ineffable love. Give us each 
hour such an abiding memory of Thy mercy that we 
shall find it hard to be unmerciful to others. Keep 
us ever so alive to Thy goodness that evil shall be 
hateful to us. And may the vision of Calvary so im- 
press itself upon us, that we may not hesitate to do 
the sacrificial deed that the need of some brother 
may demand. And do Thou walk with us in life; and 
in death take us, dear Lord, to dwell with Thee. 
Amen. 



Rev. Albert E. Day, A.M., 
Cincinnati, Ohio. 



AUGUST TWENTIETH 247 



Pray unto Me, and I will hearken. — Jer. 29 : 12. 



OUR Father, we thank Thee for Thy presence, for 
home and health and strength, for the many 
friend3 we have. Help us to be friendly and worthy 
of friendship with all who are noble and pure. 

Forgive us for the sins of the day. For the evil, 
known and unknown, for the thoughts and purposes 
of mind and heart which have not been right in Thy 
sight, we crave Thy pardon. It is written in Thy 
Word that if we confess our sin Thou wilt be faithful 
and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from 
all unrighteousness. 

We ask a blessing upon all whom we love and upon 
those for whom we ought to pray. We think of our 
Church and Sunday School, and oi all agencies every- 
where which are seeking to establish Thy Kingdom. 
Give Thy favor to all. 

Bless our family and make us a blessing to others. 
Help us to love and serve each other. Help us to be 
true in the home, in the school, in our work and 
play; and make us to be what, at our best, we ap- 
pear. 

We ask in the name of Jesus. Amen. 



Guy Lamson, D.D., 
Philadelphia, Penna. 



248 AUGUST TWENTY-FIRST 



Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my 
path. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will 
keep thy righteous judgments. Accept, I beseech Thee, the 
freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me Thy 
judgments. Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage 
for ever : for they are the rejoicing of my heart. — Ps. 119 : 
105, 106, 108, 111. 



OUR dear Heavenly Father, we thank Thee that 
during the night we could rest and sleep under 
the shadow of Thy protecting wing. We are grateful 
for the opportunities for service which come with the 
new day. We pray for strength to overcome evil and 
perform our tasks. May we show the spirit of the 
Master in all we think, say and do. 

Bless our absent friends and loved ones, and keep 
them in Thy holy will. Eemember in mercy the 
tempted and tried and afflicted ones, and sustain them 
by Thy grace. Bless those in authority in our State 
and nation with wisdom to know and strength to do 
Thy will. 

Sustain those who labor for the establishment of 
Thy Kingdom at home and abroad, and hasten the 
time when all men may know and obey Thee. For 
Jesus* sake. Amen. 



Rev. Howard A. Kbameb, 
Cleveland, Ohio. 



AUGUST TWENTY-SECOND 249 



I called upon the Lord in distress : the Lord answered me. 
— Ps. 118 : 5. 



OUR Father, Who art in Heaven, we thank Thee 
that Thou art our Father, that we are not or- 
phans, but sons and daughters of the Lord God Al- 
mighty! Hallowed be Thy Xame. May it be the 
work of our lives to renden holiness to the Xame of 
the Lord in all the earth. Thy Kingdom come in the 
plenitude of its power and the fullness of its blessing, 
and be spread abroad upon the face of the earth until 
the kingdoms of the world shall become the king- 
doms of our Lord and His Christ. 

Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. We 
know that it is done gladly, joyfully and cheerfully 
by Thy creatures in Heaven, and may it be so done 
by Thy children on earth. Give us from day to day 
our daily bread, and teach us that, having food and 
raiment, therewith to be content, for godliness with 
contentment is great gain. 

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from 
the Evil One with all his power and perils, and 
Thine shall be the Kingdom, and the power, and the 
glory forever, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour. 
Amen. 



Rev. Z. T. Sweeney, 
Colu mlus. Indiana. 



250 AUGUST TWENTY-THIRD 



Trust in the Lord with all thine heart ; and lean not 
unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowl- 
edge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. — Prov. 3 : 3-4. 



OUR Father, Thou hast given us the morning light 
so sweet to our eyes; give us also, we pray Thee, 
the morning blessing which shall fill the whole day 
with its sweetness and beauty. 

May all the duties of the day, however distasteful 
in themselves, become a delight as we hear Thy voice 
calling us to go forward fearlessly into the heart of 
them, in the assurance that we shall find Thee waiting 
for us there, ready to give us the strength we need. 

May all our relationships 1 within and without this 
home be consecrated by the touch of Thy hand, by 
which all that is base, belittling and untrue shall be 
removed and destroyed. 

When the night comes, may we be able to look back 
upon a day in which the burdens of others have been 
lightened, and in which hearts that have lost hope 
have been filled with new faith in God and His con- 
trolling love. In Christ's name we ask it. Amen. 



Chakles Wood, D.D., 
Washington, D. C. 



AUGUST TWENTY-FOURTH 251 



Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body. 
— Rom. 6 : 12. 

OUTt Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for Thy 
mercies to us in the past, and for Thy watch- 
care over us during the night. As we stand upon 
the threshold of a new day, we look to Thee for help 
and guidance. "We need Thy presence every passing 
hour." 

Make us strong to resist temptation, and give us 
courage in all things to do Thy Holy Will. Open our 
eyes that we may see every opportunity for serving 
Thee and serving our fellow-men. Help us so to live 
as to commend the religion and service of Christ to 
all about us. Enable us to live "lives that are hid 
with Christ in God." May we daily grow in grace 
and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus 
Christ. 

Remember with us all for whom we should pray — 
the sick, the sorrowing, the distressed and the needy. 
Bless all efforts put forth for the extension of Thy 
Kingdom, and hasten the day when all men shall 
love and serve Thee. 

Graciously forgive all that Thou hast seen amiss in 
our lives. Supply all our need according to Thy 
riches in glory. 

Bless us and make us a blessing to others, we ask 
in Christ's name. Amen: 



John William Lyell, D.D., 
Camden, N. J. 



252 AUGUST TWENTY-FIFTH 



God be merciful unto us, and bless us ; and cause His 
face to shine upon us ; That Thy way may be known upon 
earth, Thy saving health among all nations. Let the peo- 
ple praise Thee, O God ; let all the people praise thee. O 
let the nations be glad and sing for joy : for Thou shalt 
judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon 
earth. — Ps. 67 : 1-4. 



OUR, God and Father, we render Thee our thanks 
and praise for all the good of this day. New 
were Thy mercies in the morning, and sweet is Thy 
love in the evening hour. We bless Thee that Thou 
hast given us this day our daily bread; that Thou 
hast not forgotten us even in those self-centered mo- 
ments when we forgot Thee. 

And now we pray Thee to watch over and preserve 
us, body and soul, during the hours of the day and 
night. May our rest and sleep be sweet to us. May 
we be brought to this new day refreshed and encour- 
aged for all its duties and privileges, its sorrows and 

joys. 

When we come at last to life's evening hour, and 
the night of death begins to fall about us, may we 
by faith look beyond its darkness to the breaking of 
the eternal day. We ask all in the name and through 
the merits of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. 
Amen. 



Robert Hugh Morris, D.D., 
Philadelphia, Penna. 



AUGUST TWENTY-SIXTH 253 



Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to 
Him, and said, Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister 
hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she 
help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, 
Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things : 
But one thing is needful : and Mary hath chosen that good 
part, which shall not be taken away from her. — Luke 10 : 
40-42. 



O MERCIFUL Saviour, Who didst bless the little 
home at Nazareth with Thy meek and lowly 
life, inspire in us this day such a willing purpose to 
be about our Heavenly Father's business, that we may 
find no task too small for our patient regard, nor any 
burden too great for our earnest endeavor. Hear us 
and help us, we beseech Thee, that so each day, in 
home or temple, or in our daily work, our lives may 
be consecrated to the loving service of God and man, 
and that we, like Thee, may go about doing good, 
through Thy sufficient grace, Whose strength is made 
perfect in our weakness, and Who canst make us good 
and faithful servants, through Thine almighty power, 
to bless and to help, to seek and to save. We ask it 
in Thy name, Who art our Redeemer, our Example 
and our Friend. Amen. 



Bishop James H. Van Buben, D.D. 
Indianapolis, Indiana. 



254 AUGUST TWENTY-SEVENTH 



Blessed are the poor in spirit : for theirs is the kingdom 
of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn : for they shall 
be comforted. Blessed are the meek : for they shall in- 
herit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and 
thirst after righteousness : for they shall be filled-. Blessed 
are the merciful : for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed 
are the pure in heart : for they shall see God. Blessed are 
the peacemakers : for they shall be called the children of 
God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteous- 
ness' sake : for theirs id the kingdom of heaven. Blessed 
are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and 
shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my 
sake. — Matt. 6 : 3-11. 



OUR Father, we adore Thee as the center of all 
pure spirits, and we pray Thee to make us like 
unto Thyself. May our minds think pure thoughts. 
May our hearts love pure things. May our very lives 
be pure because Thou art pure. 

Cleanse us and sanctify us, and constantly save us, 
our Father, lest we should break down under the wear 
and tear of the world and fall beneath temptations 
that without Thy purity and strength we could never 
resist. In Jesus' name. Amen. 



E. E. Violett, D.D., 
Kansas City, Missouri. 



AUGUST TWENTY-EIGHTH 255 



The Lord is the strength of my life. — Pb. 27 : 1. 

OUR Heavenly Father, Thou hast promised us that 
as our day our strength shall be. We thank 
Thee for Thy sustaining grace through the day that 
has been, and Ave seek Thy favor and Thy help for the 
day that is to be. Help us to be kind to one another, 
and to all with whom we have to do. Suffer us not 
to be tempted above that we are able. May we be 
helpful to our fellow-travelers on life's way. May 
our lives be guided by the spirit of Him Who said, 
'"The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto but 
to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many." 
May we not be stumbling blocks to any, but may we 
walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we have been 
called. May we put conscience and heart into the 
performing of our several tasks. We claim the prom- 
ise that Thou wilt give Thine angels charge over us 
to keep us in all our ways. If it be Thy will, keep 
us through the day and night from danger and death. 
May we be pure in heart that we may see God. May 
our speech be such as becometh those who have named 
the name of Christ. May we dwell in the secret place 
of the Most High, that we may abide under the 
shadow of the Almighty, and bring us all at last in 
peace to the Father's House in Heaven. Amen. 



Frederick N. McMitj.ix, D.D. 
Cincinnati, Ohio. 



256 AUGUST TWENTY-NINTH 



Who shall separate us from the love of Christ. — Rom. 8 : 35. 

OGOD, kneeling at this family altar we hail Thee 
trustfully as our Father. As a family we wor- 
ship Thee, and pray Thee to look upon us in love, and 
as we approach Thee for guidance and strength for the 
day with its unknown problems, grant that we may 
have no fear of Thee, or of the night, or of the mor- 
row. Let perfect love cast out fear. 

We acknowledge Thee to be our Lord. Help us to 
obey Thy law, and to do Thy will. Forbid that we 
should stumble through ignorance, or err through for- 
getfulness, or falter through fearfulness. Let us not 
lose our way, or our joy, or our souls. 

We humbly confess our sins, and wait Thy word of 
forgiveness. Have mercy upon us, O God, have mercy ! 
Make us pure, and kind, and unselfish. Grant us the 
blessedness promised to those who hunger and thirst 
after righteousness. From selfishness and indolence, 
from pride and hardness, from envy and vengeful- 
ness, do Thou in mercy deliver us, Lord! 

Make Thou this day a good day for our family. 
Be Thou our shield, our refuge and our strong for- 
tress. And help us to be eager to work — glad to be 
alive, glad to be the children of Thy care and love. 
For Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. 



0. C. S. Waixace, D.D., LL.D., 

Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 



AUGUST THIRTIETH 257 



I love them that love me. — Prov. S : 17. 

'Father, we thank Thee for the night, 
And for the pleasant morning light ; 
For rest and food and loving care, 
And all that makes the day so fair." 



WE are glad for the privilege of calling upon 
Thee. We love Thee because of what Thou art 
and because of what Thou hast done. Thou art the 
Creator and Preserver of our lives. In Thee we live, 
and move, and have our being. We thank Thee for 
Thy Son, in Whom we have redemption, the forgive- 
ness of sins, and the hope of eternal life. We thank 
Thee for our country, and for our homes and schools 
and churches. Help us to love the right and despise 
the wrong. Prepare us for the duties of the day. 
We know not what is before us, but it is written, "Suf- 
ficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Give us 
grace whereby we may overcome evil with good. 

Bless all our friends and neighbors. Bless Thy 
followers everywhere. Let Thy Kingdom come, and 
Thy will be done on earth as" it is in Heaven. In 
Jesus' name. Amen. 



Rev. J. W. Sttversoit, 
Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 



258 AUGUST THIRTY-FIRST 



Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God. — Heb. 13 : 15. 

AS THE morning breaks gently upon us, O Lord, 
awaking us to consciousness and opening our 
eyes to the light and labor of each new day, before 
the blood-sprinkled mercy seat we bow. Here we 
would leave our sins, and loose and lose our weights, 
and find and cherish the full assurance of Thy favor. 
May Thy face be unobscured to us today. Give us 
grace to set our affections where Christ sitteth, that 
so we may be saved from all sordidness of thought, 
or word, or deed, and that our lives may draw their 
inspirations from high and holy springs. Help us to 
cherish a tender regard for all the children of God 
of every name. 

Our eyes are unto Thee, God. Our hearts would 
find repose in the assurance of our acceptance in the 
Beloved. We would yield our members as instruments 
of righteousness unto Thee, that, by the gracious 
power of Thy Spirit, we may ourselves this day grow 
in grace and knowledge, and, by our ministry to others 
in Christ's name, bring some into an experience of 
His abounding grace. 

Hear us, Lord, because we pray in that sweet 
Name in which all Thy exceeding great and precious 
promises are sure. Amen. 



Rev. Thomas T. Shields, 
Toronto, Ont., Canada. 



SEPTEMBER FIRST 259 



O Thou, my God, save Thy servant that trusteth in Thee. 
— Ps. 86 : 2. 

IN THY mercy and love, God, we are permitted to 
greet another day. Thy guardian angels have 
watched over us when we have not been able to care 
for ourselves. Sweet sleep has refreshed us, and now 
we look into another day confident that Thou wilt 
guide and strengthen. 

Help us this day to walk uprightly, that no good 
thing may be withheld. Forbid that any of us should 
be careless or indifferent to the opportunities of serv- 
ice that may be ours. May Thy Word which we have 
just read be a source of strength and uplift, and may 
we treasure it more as the days and the years slip by. 

God bless the sick and the tempted. Strengthen 
the weak ones and comfort all who sorrow. Bless 
our ministers and missionaries and deaconesses, and 
all who devote their lives specially to the work of 
Thy Kingdom. 

And now, our Father, as we separate for the day's 
duties, may Thy loving presence be with us, in our 
home, and at school, and at business. And at the 
close of the day may we realize that "the trivial 
round and the common task" have indeed brought us 
nearer Thee. 

We ask all through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



Rev. S. E. Mabshall, B.A., B.D., 
St. Catharines, Ont., Canada. 



260 SEPTEMBER SECOND 



Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed 
upon us, that we should be called the sons of God : there- 
fore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. 
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet 
appear what we shall be : but we know that, when He 
shall appear, we shall be like Him ; for we shall see Him 
as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him 
purifleth himself, even as He is pure. — I John 3 : 1-3. 



OUR Father, in thankfulness we come to Thee, re- 
membering the night of rest, and the new light 
of another day. Every day is the record of Thy ten- 
uer mercy, Thy providing care, Thy patient love. No 
need have we to put Thy love to the test, for Thou 
hast overwhelmed us with blessings beyond our most 
eager asking. Thou art in Thyself promise and ful- 
fillment, and we have found the yoke easy and the 
burden light in our co-work with Thy Son, Jesus, the 
Christ. 

Once more we renew our purpose to serve Thee; 
once more we lift our praises to Thee, for to us has 
come down through the years the story of Thy patient 
love to mankind everywhere, and the experience of it 
in our daily toil. Father, be with us in all that we 
do in the fulfilling of Thy will, and save us for service 
in Jesus' name. Amen. 



Philip Eugene Howard, B.A., 
Philadelphia, Fenna. 



SEPTEMBER THIRD 261 



Your heart shall live that seek God. — Ps. 69 : 32. 

OLORD, our gracious Father, we would bring to 
Thee our thanksgiving for all Thy great kind- 
ness and love to us. We bless Thee for all remem- 
bereu or forgotten of Thy providences. We bless 
Thee for all the way by which the Lord our God hath 
led us, and whilst Thou hast been so gracious i:i the 
past, we thank Thee that we can hope in Thee per- 
fectly for all the future. 

Strengthen us, we pray Thee, that we may draw 
near to Thee with lowly and obedient spirits. Do 
Thou quicken us, that we may call upon Thy Name 
with more earnestness of desire, and more true sub- 
mission, and more true faith than we sometimes have. 
We acknowledge that, as we go about our daily work, 
we too often forget Thee, for Whose sake and by 
Whose strength it should all be done. We confess 
that we yield far too much to the temptations that 
are around us, drawing us away from Thee. We live 
as if the present world were all we had to do with or 
depend upon. Do Thou deliver us, we pray Thee, 
from all foolish over-estimate of the worth of transi- 
tory things here, and enable us to rise above the 
temptations of the fleeting present, and to find in 
Thyself the treasure that the world cannot give, and 
no change can take away. Amen. 



Rev. W. A. Cameron, B.A., 
Toronto, Ont., Canada. 



262 SEPTEMBER FOURTH 



He is a buckler to all them that trust in Him. 
— II Sam. 22 : 31. 

ALMIGHTY GOD, pour out Thy Spirit upon us in 
this morning hour, and give us the blessed con- 
sciousness of Thy presence as we stand upon the 
threshold of this new day. Guide us unerringly 
through each hour by Thy Spirit that we may enter 
wider fields of usefulness. Strew our common path- 
way with beautiful and fragrant flowers, and set upon 
our daily board the plate of plenty and the cup of 
good cheer. Multiply the qualities of our hearts and 
the excellencies of our lives, and thrust us out into 
new regions of experience and service. Help us, lov- 
ing Father, to interpret life at its highest levels, and 
with a deep sense of the world's awful need. Enable 
us, by Thy abounding grace and infinite love, to re- 
flect the Spirit, life and purpose of Jesus Christ to 
the men whom we meet this day. May we be, in the 
truest sense, reflectors of God, so that men shall say 
as did one in the long ago: "I have seen Thy face as 
though I had seen the face of God." Give us an in- 
creasing appreciation of the glorious Gospel of Jesus 
Christ, a Gospel that uplifts, redeems and beautifies 
the lives of men. Speak to us, gracious Father, that 
we may go forth to the tasks of this day in faith, 
hope and love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



Rev. Edwin L. Davis, 
Cincinnati, Ohio. 



SEPTEMBER FIFTH 263 



Pray, lest ye enter into temptation. — Mark 14 : 38. 



OGOD, our Father and our Mother! We thank 
Thee that like as a father pitieth his children, 
so dost Thou pity us, and like as a mother comforteth 
her children, so Thou wilt comfort us. 

We thank Thee for our home, and for the home that 
it suggests to us, where we hope to be forever with 
Thee, and with each other. For all the good things 
that come to us, we praise Thee, and we beseech Thee 
that we may never forget to be grateful to Thee. 

Our eyes are closed, for we would shut everything 
out; we bow before Thee, for we are dependent upon 
Thee; we have nothing in our clasped hands, nothing 
with which to buy blessings, and no weapon. God, 
wilt Thou keep us from doing anything to grieve 
Thee, and make us all the day eager to serve Thee in 
serving others. Help us, that we shall bring gladness 
into human lives, and never sorrow or pain. We pray 
for the whole world in its great need of Thee. God 
keep us, and all whom we love. 

Hear us, in Jesus' name. Amen. 



Frank S. Dobbins, D.D., 
Philadelphia, Penna. 



264 SEPTEMBER SIXTH 



Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall he safe. 
— Prov. 29 : 25. 



OUR Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for this day 
with its opportunities for service. We thank 
Thee for food and raiment. We thank Thee for 
friends, companions and loved ones. We bless Thy 
Holy Name for letting us have a part in the great 
work of telling a lost world of Jesus. 

We pray Thee to make us channels of blessing this 
day. May the radiance of our Redeemer be reflected 
in our lives. May all who come in contact with us 
take knowledge that we have been with Thee. 

Bless us as we go about our daily tasks. In the 
home; in business; in the classroom; yea, everywhere, 
may we be true to Thee and to Thy teaching. Whether 
we eat or whether we drink, or whatsoever we do, 
may we do all to the glory of God. 

Be with our absent loved ones. Bless our city, and 
those who are in authority. Bless our Church and 
our pastor. Bless all who are engaged in Thy service. 

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from 
the evil one. We ask it all in Jesus' name. Amen. 



Allen Fort, D.D., 
XashviUe, Tennessee. 



SEPTEMBER SEVENTH 265 



Bow down Thine ear, Lord, hear me : for I am poor 
and needy. Preserve my soul ; for I am holy : O Thou my 
God, save Thy servant that trusteth in Thee. Be merciful 
unto me, O Lord : for I cry unto Thee daily. Rejoice the 
soul of Thy servant: for unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift; up 
my soul. For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive ; 
and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee. 
— Ps. 86 : 1-5. 



OGOD, our Heavenly Father, we worship Thee. 
We thank Thee for rest through the night, and 
for the light of the morning. Thou art the light of 
our spirits! As in all nature the plants turn to- 
ward the sun, and the flowers even in dark and shady- 
places reach out toward the light, so we look up to 
Thee, Thou Sun of Righteousness ! May the influence 
of Thy Spirit be felt in our hearts all the day 
long, cleansing our thoughts, purifying our motives, 
strengthening us in every good purpose. 

Be with us, whether in work or in study, in recrea- 
tion or repose. If trials fall to our lot, may we be 
patient; if crosses come to us, may we bear them with 
courage; if sorrows, may we find consolation in com- 
munion with Thee. We pray for our friends and our 
neighbors. We think of those who are in spiritual 
darkness, in want and loneliness. Manifest Thy mercy 
to all mankind, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



James Buckley Faulks, D.D. 
Chatham, N. J. 



266 SEPTEMBER EIGHTH 



Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the 
everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the 
earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? — dsa. 40 : 28. 

OUR Heavenly Father, with reverence and humil- 
ity we would bow at the Throne of Grace to 
obtain mercy and find grace for our daily needs. Con- 
scious in some measure of our weakness and sinful- 
ness, we earnestly seek Thy forgiving mercy, rejoicing 
to know that "Like as a father pitieth his children, so 
the Lord pitieth them that fear Him." We thank 
Thee for our home, and for the love that sweetens and 
beautifies home life. To each member of our family 
circle grant such blessings as are specially needed. 
Enlarge and deepen our sympathies. Preserve us from 
selfishness. Help us to learn patience and self-con- 
trol. Keep us from hasty, thoughtless and unkind 
words, and from misunderstanding and misjudging 
others, and deliver us from anxiety and complaining. 
Fill Thy Church with missionary zeal and with the 
presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Strengthen 
the weak, comfort the sorrowing, restore the wander- 
ing. Remember with special mercy the homeless, the 
widow and the fatherless and all who are lonely and 
friendless. Help men everywhere to have the spirit 
of true brotherhood, and grant the speedy triumph 
throughout the whole world of the principles of the 
Gospel of Peace. All of which we ask in the name of 
Jesus Christ cur Lord and Saviour. Amen. 

J. W. CONLEY, D.D., 

Fresno, California. 



SEPTEMBER NINTH 267 



Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is 
passed into the hea*vens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold 
fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which 
cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities ; but 
was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that 
we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of 
need.— (Heb. 4 : 14-16. 



OGOD, our loving Father in Heaven! We look up 
to Thee now with reverence and trust and love. 
We thank Thee for teaching us to "come boldly unto 
the Throne of Grace." 

With penitence we confess our sinfulness, and ask 
for forgiveness. With trust we bring our weakness 
to Thee, and ask for strength. With love we bring 
our hearts to Thee, and ask Thee to enter and pos- 
sess. Lead us onward step by step. Order the path- 
way of life for us as Thine own wisdom and love shall 
see to be best. Help us to be found faithful through- 
out. 

Bless with us our dear ones, and all for whom we 
should pray. Let Thy peace possess the world. May 
Thy Kingdom come, O Christ, come quickly! All 
this we ask in the name of Jesus our Saviour. Amen. 



Anson P. Atterbtjey, D.D., 
New York City, N. T. 



268 SEPTEMBER TENTH 



Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will 
give it you. — John 16 : 23. 

OGOD, Who art the Father of all the families of 
the earth, and Who makest men to be of one 
mind in a house: Bless this household, we beseech 
Thee, and grant that its members may be so united 
to one another in Thy faith and fear, that Thou may- 
est have Thy dwelling in them, and through them 
draw others to know Thee, to love Thee, and to serve 
Thee. 

Set us free, we beseech Thee, from all the sins 
which we have committed in the years that are past, 
showing us how we have displeased Thee, making us 
sorry for all our selfishness, our pride, our anger and 
every other wrong- doing. 

Grant us courage this day to be true to Thee, in 
thought and word and deed. Make us patient and 
humble, pure in heart and speech, cheerful and self- 
forgetful, temperate and just. Strengthen us to 
stand for the rights of the poor, the oppressed, the 
forsaken, against the insolence of the rich and the 
tyranny of the powerful. And bring us at last to 
Thy Heavenly Kingdom. All this we ask for the sake 
of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, to Whom, with Thee 
and the Holy Ghost, be glory now and forever. Amen. 



Rev. James 0. S. Huntington, 
West Park, N. Y. 



SEPTEMBER ELEVENTH 269 



I will pnrise Thy name for Thy loving kindness. 
— Ps. 138 : 2. 

OGOD, our Heavenly Father, we thank Thee this 
day for our health and strength, for our homes, 
for our loved ones, for all the blessings and privileges 
Thou art giving us every day, but more than all these 
we thank Thee for the gift of Thy dear Son Jesus 
Christ We thank Thee that Thou didst give Him up 
for thirtv-three vears, and that He shed His precious 
blood, and gave His life, a ransom for our sins.^ 

And so, O God, help us to die to self and sin this 
dav Forgive us for the mistakes of yesterday, and 
mav thev°be stepping stones to higher and better 
things today. Breathe into our lives Thy Chnstlike- 
ness, shine through our eyes, speak with our lips, 
grip with our hands, throb with our hearts, and may 
we help bring the world back to Thee. 

We would pray Thee for those who are m trouble, 
for those who are sick, for tLose who know Thee not. 
Grant us in our weakness, strength; in our ignorance, 
knowledge; and in our sickness, Thy healing touch. 
Bless all the families we represent, and bless our 
loved ones wherever they are. 

We ask these things, with pardon for all our sins, 
in Christ's name. Amen. 



Rev. Gypsy Smith, Jr., 
Eaddon Heights, N. J. 



270 SEPTEMBER TWELFTH 



Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice : have mercy 
also upon me, and answer me. When Thou saidst Seek ye 
my face ; my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, Lord, will I 
seek. Hide not Thy face far from me ; put not Thy servant 
away in anger : Thou hast been my help ; leave me not, 
neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my 
father and m3 r mother forsake me, then the Lord will take 
me up. Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a 
plain path, because of mine enemies. — Ps. 27 : 7-11. 



WE BOW humbly before Thee, O Lord, our Fa- 
ther, and render to Thee our praises for all Thy 
loving-kindness and tender mercy toward us. All that 
we have and are and hope, we owe to Thy goodness. 
We humbly beseech Thee to forgive our sins, and 
cleanse us from every stain of iniquity. Help us to 
walk before Thee blameless, resisting every tempta- 
tion, and faithfully performing every duty which de- 
volves upon us. Bless our absent loved ones as Thou 
seest they have need. Grant unto them and us abun- 
dant grace, and the guidance of Thy Spirit, that we 
may all be strengthened to be and to do as Thou 
wouldst have us. 

Finally bring us all into Thy everlasting Kingdom, 
we ask, through riches of grace in Christ Jesus, our 
Lord. Amen. 



Rev. Andrew J. Lamab, 
Nashville, Tennessee. 



SEPTEMBER THIRTEENTH 271 



Love suffereth long, and is kind ; love envieth not, love 
vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up ; Doth not behave 
itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily pro- 
voked, thinketh no evil ; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but re- 
joiceth in the truth ; Beareth all things, believeth all things, 
hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never faileth. 
— I Cor. 13 : 4-7. 



MOST merciful God, Whose we are and from 
Whom we receive our daily supplies, accept 
the adoration and gratitude of our hearts for Thy 
fatherly care and bounty. We have sinned and come 
short of Thy glory. Be merciful unto us in the for- 
giveness of all our sins, for the sake of Him Who 
loved us and gave Himself for us. May the love of 
Christ abound in our hearts, and manifest itself in 
our daily lives. May the Holy Spirit enlighten our 
minds, and enable us to understand and appropriate 
the Word of God, in order that it may be food for 
our souls and light unto our pathway. May He com- 
fort our hearts and help us to lay down every burden 
that hinders our Christian progress. Deliver us from 
the power and temptations of Satan and wicked peo- 
ple. Employ our lives every day in Thy service, and 
make them a blessing to others. In mercy deal with 
the afflicted and save the lost, for Jesus' sake. Amen. 



J. J. Hill, D.D., 

Red Springs, N. C. 



272 SEPTEMBER FOURTEENTH 



Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our 
Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlast- 
ing consolation and good hope through grace. Comfort 
your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and 
work.— II Thess. 2 : 16-17. 



O MERCIFUL GOD and Heavenly Father, we give 
Thee hearty thanks for all Thy benefits and 
blessings of the past. Continue to us this day, we 
beseech Thee, Thy watchful care and protection, as 
Thou hast through all our days. Keep all the mem- 
bers of this household from all accidents which may 
happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts that 
may assault and hurt the soul. Teach us what things 
are right to do, and make us wise and strong to do 
Thy will. 

Comfort all the sick and sorrowful, the poor and 
distressed, and put it into our hearts to help them, 
and show us how to do it. 

Bless and direct Thy Church. Give its ministers 
wisdom, zeal and faithfulness, and make each mem- 
ber of it faithful to Thee, and ready to do Thy will. 
Call sinners to repentance, and inspire all Thy people 
to obedience to Thy law and to service of their fellow- 
men. All this we ask through our Lord and Saviour 
Jesus Christ. Amen. 



Bishop Francis Key Brooks, 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 



SEPTEMBE R FIFTEENTH 273 

Thanksgiving ... be unto our God for ever and ever. 
—Rev. 7 : 12. 

OTHOU God of Heaven and earth, Thou Who hast 
established the home and sanctified it, bless, we 
pray Thee, this our home. May it be a P^ce where 
Thou canst dwell, a place in which Thy Spirit shall 
reign supreme, a place which is a real home in every 
sense of the word. _ 

Mav the home-maker be conscious this day ot iny 
presence, and may she lean upon Thee f or strength 
and for help, and may the home-provider be led by 
Thee as he goes out to his work, and be sustained by 
Thee as he meets the trials and temptations that 
shall beset him, and be returned in health when the 
work of the day is all over, to this our home and rest- 

in Maynothing be allowed to mar our home relations 
and mav each member of this home be faithful and 
true May the parents be all they ought to be to the 
children, teaching them by example as well as by pre- 
cept and mav the children hold dear the lessons they 
learn from the parents, and may both parents and 
children be what they ought to be in the sight of the 

°This we ask in the name of Jesus our Redeemer. 
Amen. 



Llewellyn L. Henson, D.D., 
Pueblo, Colorado. 



274 SEPTEMBER SIXTEENTH 



Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving. 
— Ps. 95 : 2. 

OLORD GOD, our Father, Saviour and Guide, by 
Whose gracious and bountiful providence we 
have been nourished and sustained until this hour, 
and in Whose redemptive, all-embracing love we 
greatly rejoice, accept, we beseech Thee, the sincere 
and profound gratitude of our hearts for Thine un- 
failing mercy and goodness. Pardon, we implore 
Thee, all our failings, faults and follies. By the 
Spirit dwelling within us, sweeten our dispositions 
and chasten all our appetites and desires. Sanctify 
our home, light it with the lamp of Thy presence 
continually, and warm it with the fire of Thy love. 

Make Thy way plain before our eyes, and lead us 
onward and upward. Sanctify unto us all our trials 
and difficulties. Help us over the hard places, and in 
the smooth places suffer us not to forget our constant 
need of Thee. Quicken and intensify our love to Thee, 
and help us to be compassionate and generous in all 
our dealings with our fellow-men. Enable us to do 
justly and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with 
Thee. May we not be overcome of evil, but may we 
overcome evil with good. 

let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, 
but establish Thou the righteous. And may the whole 
earth be filled with Thy glory! Amen. 



W. H. Cline, D.D., 

Georgetoum, Ont., Canada. 



SEPTEMBER SEVENTEENTH 275 



Bless the Lord, O my soul : and all that is within me, 
bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and for- 
get not all His benefits : Who forgiveth all thine iniquities ; 
Who healeth all thy diseases ; Who redeemeth thy life 
from destruction ; Who crowneth thee with loving kindness 
and tender mercies ; Who satisfleth thy mouth with good 
things ; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. — 
Ps. 103 : 1-5. 

ALMIGHTY GOD, Father of all grace, we adore 
Thee as the Author of our being, our Preserver, 
and our Redeemer. Cleanse us from all inherent in- 
iquity, and from all the defilements of sin contracted 
as we have lived and moved in a sinful world. Com- 
mand a double portion of Thy Spirit's power upon 
Thy ministers, upon all Christian workers, and upon 
all Thy people who constitute Thy Kingdom upon 
earth. Grant that Thy children may show that spirit 
of kindness and helpfulness which was manifested by 
our Lord Jesus Christ when upon earth. Work in us 
the spirit of forgiveness towards all who may have in 
any way offended against us. Give us that which is 
necessary for the health of our bodies and endue us 
with the spirit of contentment. Give us a just con- 
ception of the things with which we are surrounded, 
and make us faithful in the discharge of all our 
duties. 

We ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 



Rev. William Megginson, 
Richmond, Virginia. 



276 SEPTEMBER EIGHTEENTH 



Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your 
mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that 
it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not 
the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day 
of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, 
and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, 
with all malice. — Ephes. 4 : 29-31. 



ALMIGHTY GOD, our Father and Preserver, Who, 
having refreshed us with night's slumber, hast 
awakened us to the duties of a new day, grant us, we 
humbly beseech Thee, Thy heavenly presence, that we 
may be able to do our work as in the great Taskmas- 
ter's eye. 

Thou Who hast redeemed us through Thy mercy, 
be pleased to defend us by Thy grace from the evil 
without us, and within. Save us from the power of 
our own lusts; the subtle suggestions of our own 
thoughts; the treachery of our own hearts; and cause 
Thy face to shine upon us, Thou in Whose presence 
there is no night, that this day and all our days may 
be pure and holy, and that we may walk in the light 
as children of the light. We beseech Thee to hear us, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



Rev. T. B. McCorkindale, M.A. 
Chesterville, Canada. 



SEPTEMBER NINETEENTH 277 



and Hi shall give you another Comforter, that He may 
abide with you for ever. — John 14 . ld-io. 

O ALMIGHTY GOD and Heavenly Father, Who 
hast safely preserved us through sleep and dark- 
ness, and hast brought us again to light and the joy 
of living, we adore Thy name and bless Thee for lny 
mercies daily renewed. _ 

Let Thy truth guide our footsteps, and Thy Spirit 
rule in our hearts through all the changes of this 
fleeting life, that we never be surprised into sin or 
error but preserved with calmness and courage in the 
way 'set before us, having always a conscience with- 
out offense and without recrimination. Accept the 
dedication of our full and hearty service of body, soul 
and spirit, not regarding our thoughtlessness and dis- 
tractions, but sustain us in our purpose of righteous- 
ness and true holiness, that we may live to the glory 
and praise of Thy Holy Name, through Jesus Christ, 
our only Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. 



Bishop Cleland K. Nelson, 
Atlanta, Ga. 



278 SEPTEMBER TWENTIETH 



Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust. 
Ps. 40 : 4. 

OUR gracious Lord, we beseech Thee to so guide 
and bless us this day, that we may become more 
like Thy Blessed Son, in all the gracious and won- 
derful perfections of His being. We earnestly pray 
that we may possess the mind of Christ — the mind of 
perfect humility; that His cross of self-denial and 
sacrifice may be willingly assumed and carried as 
one of the coveted privileges of the Christian life; 
that we may enjoy the Spirit of Christ, for we have 
learned that human wisdom is not sufficient to equip 
us to meet the demands of life and service; that we 
may possess the purity of Christ, in Whom there was 
found no fault; that the confidence of Christ may be 
ours, the confidence which perfect faith ensures; that 
the joy of Christ may fill our souls, the joy of per- 
fect peace — peace enjoyed because there exists between 
Thy heart and ours nothing to create division or fric- 
tion. 

Grant, we beseech Thee, Lord, that we may so 
live as to be fit to represent Thy dear Son as ambas- 
sadors; that we may be epistles known and read of 
all men, as telling the story of a wonderful redemp- 
tion ; that the influence of our lives may be such that 
men may constantly take knowledge of us that we have 
been with Christ Jesus and have learned of Him. 
A men. 

Rev. George R. Stair, 
PortlandyMaine. 



SEPTEMBER TWENTY-FIRST 279 



I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God. 
— Deut. 30 : 16. 



OUR Heavenly Father, we come to Thee this morn- 
ing with praise and thanksgiving for Thy care 
and love. We are grateful for the temporal blessings 
Thou hast given us, and for the loved ones we have 
to enjoy. We thank Thee for the gift of Thy Son, and 
for the* Holy Spirit. 

We ask Thee to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us 
from all unrighteousness. Be with us this day, and 
help us to be kind and courteous. Help us to be 
more like Thee. May our eyes be opened to the op- 
portunities for serving Thee and helping others to 
know Thee, Whom to know aright is life eternal. 

May Thy Spirit be with those, at home or abroad, 
who preach or teach salvation, and grant that the 
word preached may not return unto Thee void. Be 
with those in authority, and may they rule with jus- 
tice and equity. Comfort "as one whom his mother 
comforteth" those in trouble and sorrow, and strength- 
en those in sickness. 

Our Father, hear our petition, and keep us this day 
without sin, for the sake and in the name of Jesus, 
our Saviour. Amen. 



Claeence B. Mitchell, 
Haverhill, Mass. 



280 SEPTEMBER TWENTY-SECOND 



All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes ; but 
the Lord weigheth the spirits. Commit thy works unto the 
Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. — Prov. 16 : 
2-3. 



OUR Father, Who art in Heaven, Thou art our 
Father, though we are of the earth, and impure 
in Thy sight. Thou dost love us, and we are Thy 
children. Thy goodness is shown in that Thou hear- 
est our prayers. 

We thank Thee for so many tokens of Thy favor 
and abiding love. Help us to live as Thy children 
should live every day that we tarry here. May we 
learn more of Thee as the days rush on into eternity. 
May all our powers and service be devoted to Thee. 
May it be our constant joy to serve Thee and follow 
where Thou dost lead. Thou dost always design the 
best possible course for us — therefore we are safe in 
doing Thy will. 

Teach us Thy way, and help us to keep our feet 
therein. In the hard places of life's pathway, help 
us, Lord, for we are weak, and sometimes we fall. 
"We need Thee every hour." Keep us from falling 
into sin. Save us now and evermore, for the sake of 
Jesus, our Master. A men. 



Rev. W. W. Van Dtjsen, 
Boise, Idaho. 



SEPTEMBER TWENTY-TH 1 RD 281 



Let Thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even Thy 
salvation, according to Thy word. S» shall I have where- 
with to answer him that reproacheth me : for I trust in 
Thy word. And take not the word of truth utterly out 
of my mouth ; for I have hoped in Thy judgments. So 
shall I keep Thy law continually for ever and ever. — OPs. 
119 : 41-44. 



OUR Father, Who art in Heaven; Thou art also 
upon the earth. Thou didst stretch forth Thy 
hand and darkness came over the earth, Thou hast 
stretched it forth again and light has flooded the 
world. We give Thee thanks for the morning light 
and for the sleep and rest of the night. Grant to us 
this day wisdom for our problems, courage for our 
tasks, patience for our toil, strength for our burdens, 
and faith for our enterprises. Enable us to so spend 
this day that our work shall be our worship. May we 
be "the glory of Christ" among men, commending 
Him and His salvation. Enable us to so spend the 
day that our spiritual life shall be enriched by its 
experiences, and our fellow-men helped by our influ- 
ence. Help us to maintain a conscience void of of- 
fense toward God and man. We ask it all in Christ's 
name. Amen. 



William Robert King, D.D. 

St. Louis, Missouri. 



282 SEPTEMBER TWENTY-FOURTH 



For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, 
Thou knowest it altogether. Search me, O God, and know 
my heart : try me and know my thoughts : And see if 
there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way 
everlasting. — Ps. 139 : 4-23-24. 



OGOD, we give Thee thanks for Thy great good- 
ness, and Thy unfailing kindness. Day after 
day Thou hast bestowed upon us gifts according to 
our need. Teach us so to use them that in all our 
doings we may glorify Thy name, and further Thy 
righteous cause. 

Above all, Most Merciful Father, we bless Thee for 
Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Saviour. For His sake, 
do Thou receive us, and grant us Thy Spirit, that we 
may be enabled to follow in His footsteps, and to 
grow in His likeness. Prepare us, Heavenly Father, 
for all the appointments of Thy wise and loving 
Providence. May we be found, in them all, diligent, 
brave and faithful! 

We commend to Thy love and care all that are dear 
to us, and all men everywhere in their need of Thee. 
May Thy gracious hand. lead and keep them till the 
discipline of life is over! Then may we and they be 
brought into Thy glorious presence,* and find a place 
in Thine everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. Amen. 



T. B. KlLPATBICK, D.D., 

Toronto, Canada. 



SEPTEMBER TWENTY-FIFTH 



283 



Thy statutes. — Ps. 119 : 11-1- 

TXFAR Father in Heaven, we come to Thee in love 
D and pra se for all the blessings we enjoy; 
for the food we have to eat, or^wato we 
drink the raiment we wear and the fresh air we 

St ^Vn^Mp Thee open, -We thank Thee 
for the open Bible, but above all else we than* inee 
that Thou didst lead us out of darkness ,nto light 
through the gift of Thy dear Son. 

n Father help us to become more worthy inj 

our hire, in the name of Jesus we ask it. Amen. 



Rev. John L. Brandt, 

St. Louis, Missouri. 



284 SEPTEMBER TWENTY-SIXTH 



And in every work that he began in the service of the 
house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, 
to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered. 
—II Chr. 31 : 21. 

OUR kind Heavenly Father, we come to give Thee 
worship this morning. We have rested safely 
beneath the cover of Thy care through the night, and 
can say as Thy servant of old, "When I awake, I am 
still with Thee." Blessed be Thy name. "Thy mer- 
cies are new every morning, and Thy thoughtfulness 
renewed in the night." We thank Thee for morning 
light and morning gifts, and for the opportunities to 
serve Thee through this new day. Help us, our Fa- 
ther, to enter into all the work of the day with 
cheerful minds. Give us strength*for our toil, clear- 
ness of mind for all decisions we must make, and 
grace to overcome every temptation to do wrong. 
Help us to walk before our fellow-men in such man- 
lier that others can see that we "have been with 
Jesus." Remember graciously all our loved ones; 
parents, brothers and sisters, and all dear to us. 

"Though sundered far, may we often meet 
Around one common Mercy seat." 

and realize that Ave have a common Father over us 
all. Bless this day all efforts put forth to win men 
from sin. Give success to all teaching and preaching 
and living Thy word at home and abroad. Give us, 
dear Lord, the joy of winning a soul for Thee today, 
and to Thy name be glory forever. Amen. 

H. L. Yaeger, D.D., 
Chicago, Illinois. 



SEPTEMBER TWENTY-SEVENTH 285 



Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help. 
— Ps. 146 : 5. 

WE REJOICE, O God, that we are not lonely or- 
phans in the world. We gladly realize that we 
can look unto Thee and call Thee "our Father." Lead 
us to note Thy nearness. In the midst of the hurry 
and flurry of the day, quiet our lives and prompt us 
to listen to Thy voice, and to interpret aright Thy 
message. We thank Thee for the bright sunshine and 
the blue heavens, for fresh air and wholesome food. 
We praise Thee for the privilege of study and medi- 
tation; for uplifting books and ennobling thoughts. 
We are grateful for good friends and loving compan- 
ions. May our lives, as well as our lips, tell Thee of 
our gratitude. Speak with our tongues; work with 
our hands ; send our feet on Thy errands ; possess our 
whole being; "Let that mind be in us which was in 
Christ Jesus." 

Save us from listlessness and laziness; keep us 
from flimsiness and frivolity; deliver us from selfish- 
ness; fill us with cheer, and lead us to brighten the 
lives of all we meet. Remove from us all malice and 
meanness. Help us to flee from evil, follow after 
righteousness, and fight the good fight of faith. Broad- 
en our vision, deepen our earnestness, lengthen our 
love, intensify our reverence and increase our useful- 
ness, we ask in our Master's name. 



Francis Harvey Green, A.M., Litt.D., 
West Chester, Penna. 



286 SEPTEMBER TWENTY-EIGHTH 



He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. — I John 1 : 9. 



ALMIGHTY GOD of the Heaven, the earth and the 
sea! God of our fathers and God of the nations! 
Hear us, we pray Thee. Forgive our sins and re- 
move our transgressions far from us. Help us, that 
we may behold Thy glory. 

Help us to see the beauties of Thy law, and to feel 
the quickening power of Thy wonderful love. Give 
us, we pray Thee, broad faith, bright hopes, strong 
love and a firm step to meet the duties of life. 

Let our hearts sing for joy in the remembrance of 
Thy goodness. Keep us in strength, that we may 
serve Thee. We praise Thee for Thy many and signal 
blessings vouchsafed to us, not only as individuals, 
but also as a people and a nation. We thank Thee 
for our forefathers, for Thy manifold blessings be- 
stowed upon them, and through them upon us, their 
children. We pray Thee, O God, for grace to enable 
us to live useful lives, helpful to our fellow-men. 

May wars and strife cease, and the kingdoms of this 
world become the kingdoms of our Lord and His 
Christ. Hear our prayer for our Redeemer's sake. 
Amen. 



Lucian J. Fosdick, 
Dorchester, Mass. 



SEPTEMBER TWENTY-NINTH 287 



Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith from God 
the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all 
them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. 
— Ephee. 6 : 23-24. 

DEAR Father, at the beginning of another day we 
come before Thee, after the quiet rest of the 
ni<*ht, to thank Thee that Thou hast spared our lives 
to see this dav, for all the days are Thine; the cattle 
on a thousand hills are Thine; the water in the brook 
is Thine and the fish in the sea are Thine; so why 
should we concern ourselves about the temporal 
things of this life, knowing and believing that Thou 
art able and willing to take care of us, and provide 
for our every need. So we come to Thee with great 
boldness, trusting in Thee for all that is necessary to 
sustain us. We most humbly beseech Thee to pour 
out Thv Holv Spirit upon us, and to guide us m all 
that we may* do or think or say, that we may be kept 
from harm and sin, and be made pure and good within. 
Help us to praise and adore and magnify Thy Holy 
Name, for all Thy goodness and love for us this day 
of our lives on earth, for Jesus' sake. Amen. 



J. Frank Fox, 

Philadelphia, Penna. 



288 SEPTEMBER THIRTIETH 



Unto Thee lift I up mine eyes, Thou that dwellest in 
the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the 
hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto 
the hand of her mistress ; so our eyes wait upon the Lord 
our God, until that He have mercy upon us. — Ps. 123 : 1-2. 



OUR Heavenly Father, in the light of another day 
we rise to do Thy will. We bless Thee for the 
comfort and rest of the night, and for the promise of 
strength for the new day. 

May we find joy in our toil, and much quiet in the 
clamor and strife of the street. May the still, small 
voice guide us in the way of all good, and may Thine 
own spirit throughout this day keep our eyes from 
tears, our feet from falling, and our souls from death. 

Bless all our kind, and those everywhere that we 
hold dear, and do for them, we beseech Thee, beyond 
what we know how to ask. Forgive every wrong 
thing in our lives for which we repent. Keep us this 
day near to Thee in all our thoughts and words and 
deeds. Let Thy joy live in our hearts, and Thy peace 
abide in our homes, and all these things we ask in 
Jesus' name. Amen. 



William Chalmers Covert, D.D., 
Chicago, Illinois. 



OCTOBER FIRST 289 



The Lord is my light and my salvation. — Ps. 27 : 1. 

OUR Heavenly Father, we of this household, with 
varied needs, unite to revere Thy name. We 
would glorify Thee in our ordinary life. We thank 
Thee for the quiet shining of the light upon the world, 
and for the quiet shining of Thy light in the souls 
of men. Light us on our path, lest we lose the way. 
We would make league with Thee for the Master's 
presence. May Jesus be guest and chiefest friend at 
our fireside, the listener to every conversation, coun- 
sellor in every day of doubt, light in every hour of 
darkness, refuge in any time of storm, solace in the 
night of grief. Bless us in basket and in store. Make 
us rich in all the things of the Kingdom of God. 

Give us all the gladness Thy love and wisdom can 
trust us with, and only enough of trial and of storm 
to make us pure. When our feet shall have grown 
tired upon the road of the years, and death shall 
scatter the mist upon our faces, and we grope with 
blind fingers for the latch of the gate of Thy house, 
may He guide us with the unfailing cunning of His 
love, and give abundant entrance into the graveless, 
deathless, nightless city which is Thy home and ours. 

Forgive us our trespasses. And this we pray for 
all who name Thy name. For Christ's sake. Amen. 



Rev. Lincoln A. Ferris, 
Baltimore, Maryland. 



290 OCTOBER SECOND 



Thou art my God ; early -will I seek Thee. — Ps. 63 : 1. 

OUR Heavenly Father, Who hath kept us through 
the night and given us a new day, we thank 
Thee for all Thy gifts. We thank Thee for renewed 
strength of body, and for refreshment of mind. We 
thank Thee for the new opportunities that come with 
the new day — the opportunity to learn, the opportu- 
nity to be kind, the chance to work, and the chance 
to pray. We failed yesterday in leaving undone 
things that we should have, done, and in doing things 
that we ought not to have done; but Thou hast given 
us today in which to begin anew. We look to Thee, 
the Giver of all good, for help to spend the day in 
ways Thou dost approve. 

May Thy peace possess our hearts. Grant us that 
perfect love that casteth out fear. In all our ways 
we would acknowledge Thee, that Thou mayest direct 
our paths. We beseech Thee to give unto us that 
measure of Thy sustaining grace that will make us 
victorious over temptation, patient when tried, kind 
and helpful and loving in all our relations with oth- 
ers. Help us to be faithful in the little things of 
daily life, and in everything to seek first the King- 
dom of God, that our lives may conform to Thy per- 
fect plan, and that we may glorify 'Thee in accom- 
plishing the work Thou dost give us to do. We ask 
it for Christ's sake. Amen. 



Rev. M. F. McCutcheon, B.A., 
Montreal, Canada. 



OCTOBER THIRD 291 



Her sins, which are many, are forgiven. — Luke 7 : 47. 

HEAVENLY FATHER, through the darkness Thou 
hast blessed us with Thy gift of sleep and rest. 
We thank Thee for it. The new day, too, is Thy gift, 
and for it we give Thee thanks. Help us to begin the 
day with a glad sense of Thy reality, Thy nearness, 
Thy love, Thy gracious Fatherhood. 

Grant us, We beseech Thee, a fresh sense of Thy 
forgiving grace, that the sins of the past may not 
haunt and accuse us. Grant us Thy helping grace, 
that we may be steadfast in the presence of tempta- 
tion ; that we may be cheerful and faithful in the per- 
formance of our "tasks; that we may carry our cross 
of trial, if such shall be laid upon us, bravely and un- 
flinchingly; that we may put away our selfishness and 
unkindness, and live today a loving life with our dear 
ones and all others with whom we shall have to do. 
Our help is in Thee. 

Bring to our remembrance Thy great promises. 
Make the Saviourhood of Christ real in our hearts 
today. Shed forth Thy Holy Spirit anew within us. 
And* what we ask for ourselves, grant, we beseech 
Thee, in Thy great goodness, to others. Through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



Pbof. Thomas Trottee. D.D. 
Toronto, Ont., Canada. 



292 OCTOBER FOURTH 



He that loveth father or mother more than me is not 
worthy of me : and he that loveth son or daughter more 
than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his 
cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He 
that findeth his life shall lose it : and he that loseth his 
life for my sake shall find it. — Matt. 10 : 37-39. 



OLORD, our Heavenly Father, we adore Thee for 
Thy loving kindness and tender mercies. Thou 
hast surrounded us with evidences of Thy care and 
protection. We thank Thee for every blessing Thou 
hast bestowed upon us — our life, sustenance and hope. 
May we be conscious this day of Thy presence to guide, 
protect and help us. In our trials, give us patience 
to endure ; in temptation, make a way for our escape. 
May we all be under the influence of Thy Holy Spirit ; 
may He make effectual our holy purpose to be knit 
together as one family in Jesus Christ our Lord, that 
in our individual and social life we may reflect the 
character of our Saviour in the love we bear to God 
and to our fellow-men. Help us to walk in His foot- 
steps, in holy obedience to Thy will. Increase our faith 
to claim the promises Thou hast so richly given for 
spiritual sustenance, and the inspiration of hope, 
that our life on earth may lead to everlasting life in 
Heaven. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen, 



Henry Wheeler, D.D., 
Ocean Grove, N. J. 



OCTOBER FIFTH 293 



Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with 
God through our Lord, Jesus Christ. — Rom. 5 : 1. 



WE BOW before Thee in united worship, our 
Father and our God, praising Thee for Thy 
faithful shepherd care. We thank Thee for every 
support of life, but especially for Thy Son, our Sa- 
viour, through Whom we have been made children of 
God. Take from us the guilt and power of sin. Teach 
us today our dependence upon Thee. Impart to us 
faith, patience, love and hope. 

Lift us above living for this world alone. May we 
as members of the family be helpful one to another in 
days dark and bright. Deliver us from dangers seen 
and unseen. And may we so love and serve our fellow- 
men that others may see Thee in us. Hear us on 
behalf of all who are dear to us by ties of nature or 
of grace. Heal the sick, comfort the sorrowing, lift 
the fallen and destroy the works of the devil. 

Speed the day when earth's utmost bounds shall 
hear and turn unto Thee. May Thy people every- 
where today live valiantly for God. And so guide us 
each one, all through life, that we may at last be one 
unbroken family circle around Thy throne in Glory. 
For Jesus' sake. A mm. 



John Alvin Ore, D.D., 
Pittsburgh, Pa. 



294 OCTOBER SIXTH 



Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, 
whose hope is in the Lord his God : Which made heaven, 
and earth, the sea, and all that therein is : Which keepeth 
truth for ever : Which executeth judgment for the op- 
pressed: Which giveth food to the hungry. — Ps. 146 : 5-7. 



WE SALUTE Thee, God of the Sunrise! "My 
voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord; 
in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and 
will look up." 

Give us to go through this day with head erect, 
heart full-beating, eyes open to see, mind responsive to 
know. Let us be thankful for what we have, without 
covetousness, and grant us to share gladly with oth- 
ers what Thou dost drop in our laps. We do not pray 
for a bank full of gold, but for a mind full of noble 
thoughts. We do not pray for a house full of treas- 
ure, but for a home full of Thy love. 

Help us to walk to the end of this day with Thee. 
Then, when the lamps are lighted, may this home, yes, 
and the great world, find Thy promise fulfilled to the 
soul, that at evening time it shall be light. In His 
name Who is the Light of the world. Amen. 



Rev. Fred Winslow Adams, 
New York City, A~. Y. 



OCTOBER SEVENTH 295 



Now God Himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus 
Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you 
to increase and abound in love one toward another, and 
toward all men, even as we do toward you : To the end 
He may stablish your hearts unblamable in holiness before 
God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus 
Christ with all His saints. — I Thess. 3 : 11-13. 



A L:\HGHTY GOD, our Father, help us to receive 
this day as a fresh gift from Thy loving hand, 
and to use it earnestly and joyously. Give us for its 
tasks, we pray Thee, vigor of body, clearness of mind 
and deiiniteness of purpose, but above all, the right 
spirit and the pure heart. 

Look graciously upon our loved ones ; place upon them 
Thy guiding and restraining hand. Comfort all who 
are sick and in sorrow; heal the wounded in spirit; 
recall the wandering. Strengthen all who are work- 
ing earnestly for the Kingdom of our Lord, and grant 
that throughout the world this may be a day of great 
progress toward righteousness and peace. 

Thy Kingdom come. Thy will in us and in all men 
be done, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



Alexander MacColl, D.D., 
Philadelphia, Penna. 



296 OCTOBER EIGHTH 



Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the 
law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep His testimo- 
nies, and that seek Him with the whole heart. They also do 
no iniquity : they walk in His ways. Thou hast commanded 
us to keep Thy precepts diligently. O that my ways were 
directed to keep Thy statutes ! — Ps. 119 : 1-5. 



OUR Father, Who dost love us with everlasting 
love, may we rejoice in that love, and endeavor 
day by day to show our love for Thee by glad obedi- 
ence to Thy will. Keep us pure, strong, and full of 
trust in Thee, that we may be victorious over tempta- 
tions to wrong-doing, and may ever know the joy and 
help of Thy presence in our lives. 

Banish all selfishness, and inspire us with desire for 
justice to all men, and stir up our wills to establish 
the rule of Christian brotherhood on earth. May we 
look upon Thy whole family and respond to every 
call for sympathy and compassion, and to every chal- 
lenge to heroic and self-sacrificing service for our 
fellow-men. 

In all things give us the guidance and direction of 
Thy Holy Spirit, that we may serve and please Thee. 
In the name of our Lord and Master, Who loved us 
and gave Himself for us. Amen. 



Rev. Romelly F. Humphries, 
Baltimore, Maryland. 



OCTOBER NINTH 297 



My praise shall be continually of Thee. — Ps. 71 : 6. 

ALMIGHTY GOD, our Heavenly Father, from 
Whom all good thoughts proceed, grant us the 
presence of the Holy Spirit, that we may walk humbly 
before Thee this day. Thou art the fountain of our 
light and the source of all our strength. We render 
thanks to Thee for this home with all its comforts and 
blessings. We thank Thee for all the tokens of Thy 
loving kindness and Thy mercies which we have ex- 
perienced. Be with us this day, God! May each 
member of our household be conscious of Thy pres- 
ence. May Christ Jesus be exalted in all that we 
shall say and do. We thank Thee for salvation; we 
ask Thee to make us ready for service. May each one 
of us surrender absolutely to Jesus, Thy Son. May 
we give ourselves, our time, our money and our in- 
fluence unreservedly to Him. May we care for the 
lowly and neglected; may we visit the sick and those 
in distress; may we encourage the tempted and the 
discouraged, and not forget to be fishers of men. 

Make us wise, Blessed Master, with Thy wisdom 
and strong in Thy strength. May we be loyal to 
Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Give us vitality 
of body and make us able to endure. Grant us the 
spirit of prevailing prayer, for Jesus' sake. Amen. 



W. D. Powell, D.D., 
Louisville, Kentucky. 



298 OCTOBER TENTH 



My mouth shall show forth Thy praise. — Ps. 51 : 15. 

ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, we gratefully 
acknowledge Thee as the ruler of our lives. Thou 
art Infinite God; we are creatures of the earth. Yet 
Thou hast exalted us to be Thy children. Thou hast 
endowed us with reason and will, and hast given us a 
nature that seeks after Thee. Thou hast placed us in 
this beautiful world and lavished its bounties upon 
us, and Thou hast made provision for the pure enjoy- 
ment of every sense. Thou hast set us in families 
amidst neighbors, and hast endowed us with love. 

Above all, because we have fallen into sin, Thou 
hast manifested redeeming love by the sacrifice of our 
Saviour upon the cross. We humbly confess our per- 
sonal sinfulness and failure to render a full measure 
of service to Thee and to our fellow-men. In mercy 
grant Thy forgiveness, and enable us to live more 
nobly. 

Look with compassion upon all men. Awaken true 
repentance and desire for salvation in every breast, 
both in heathen lands and at home. 

Widen Thy Kingdom, and manifest Thy power in 
the earth. Bring all rulers and peoples under Thy 
sway, and soon, Lord, soon manifest Thyself in 
Thine eternal glory. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 



L. Stanley Hughson, B.A., D.D., 
Ftratford, Ont., Canada. 



OCTOBER ELEVENTH 299 



God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in 
trouble. — Ps. 46 : 1. 

MOST gracious Father, from Whom all good gifts 
come, grant us, we entreat Thee, the gift we 
need above all others, Thy Holy Spirit to help our in- 
firmities, that our worship may be purged from all 
unreality. Free us from selfishness in our prayers; 
deliver us from asking for those things that will min- 
ister chiefly to our pleasure. Help us to covet the 
best gifts, the gifts which we do not always ask for 
by reason of our ignorance, or do not dare to implore 
Thee to grant us because of our sin. We are con- 
scious of our sinfulness, but cannot be truly sorry 
for our misdoings until Thou dost move us to honest 
contrition. We would be grateful to Thee for the 
multitude of Thy mercies, but it is not until Thou 
dost grant us a due sense of Thy goodness, and awa- 
ken within us gratitude, that, our hearts are ready 
to praise Thee. Our love languishes and dies except 
Thy Spirit shall quicken it into a living flame. We 
would live the prayer life; we would learn what it is 
to pray without ceasing. To this end do Thou come 
and dwell within us, Thou Spirit of Christ! Grant 
us Thy grace, that our lives may show forth Thy 
praise, until at length we behold Thee in the face of 
Jesus Christ, Whom, now unseen, we love. Amen. 



Sajjx-el P. Rose, D.D., 
Montreal, Que., Canada. 



300 OCTOBER TWELFTH 



Fight the good fight of faith. — Tim. 6 : 12. 

WE THANK Thee, our Heavenly Father, for the 
care, the rest and refreshment vouchsafed unto 
us during another night. We thank Thee for the 
privilege of being able to present ourselves again be- 
fore Thee, we trust, in the spirit of worship and of 
consecration, for the life and work of this new day. 
We recognize that the highest, as well as the holiest, 
possible ideal of life is the doing of Thy will and the 
accomplishment of Thy purposes concerning us. We 
recognize also, that even as Thou hast said, the way 
of man is not in himself, that it is not in man that 
walketh, to be able always and everywhere to direct 
his steps aright, and so we look to Thee for the strength 
and wisdom and grace necessary to discharge faith- 
fully and earnestly the responsibilities and duties of 
the day. Make us deeply sensitive to Thy presence, 
and to the other privileges and blessings of the day, 
so that they shall not pass from us unappreciated and 
unused. 

Grant unto us the spirit of patience, of sympathy 
and of willingness to help any who may not be as 
highly favored as we are. Remember those in weak- 
ness, in suffering or in sorrow, and should we our- 
selves be called upon to pass through any of these ex- 
periences, may there also come with them the grace 
of resignation and of trust. Amen. 

Rev. Robert Miixiken, B.D., 
Regina, Sash., Canada. 



OCTOBER THIRTEENTH 301 



If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us. 
—I John 5 : 14. 



WITH gratitude for Thy protection, during the 
night watches, we begin, O Lord, the new life 
of a new day. Our paths will be the busy thor- 
oughfares — walk Thou with us unseen. Our thoughts 
will be of our business — let not our hearts cleave to 
these things, but through the sweet influence of Thy 
Spirit, incline us to seek things that endure. We shall 
be tempted today, we may be drawn to the verge of 
some awful mistake — in the swift moment of danger, 
when we cannot withdraw to our closet of prayer, 
give us to know the right, and the power to do it. 

Let not trifles ruffle our temper, nor disappointments 
unman us ; let not exacting duties make us selfish and 
churlish; give us rather a sunshiny face, a forthright 
hand, and the joy of a word fitly spoken to some 
timid, discouraged soul. 

Strength for the day's service give us in such meas- 
ure as Thou wiliest; pass by our sins of omission; 
and when the shadows fall, bring us again, unsullied 
by thought, or word, or deed, to sweet refreshing 
sleep. For Christ's sake. Amen. 

(Not original; heard by him several years ago.) 



Hon. John Stites, 
Louisville, Kentucky. 



302 OCTOBER FOURTEENTH 



Pray without ceasing. — I Tness. 5 : 17. 

OUR blessed Saviour, Who dost dwell in our hearts 
by faith, grant us such a clear consciousness of 
Thine indwelling that each may be able to say, "I 
live, and yet no longer I, but Christ liveth in "me." 
Show us that our interests and Thine are one. En- 
able us so to surrender ourselves to Tliee that Thou 
mayest work in us both to will and to work for Thy 
good pleasure. Establish Thy rule over every part of 
our nature. Subdue our passions and energies to 
Thy will. In Thy light may we see our faults and 
failures, and, as they are revealed, do Thou remove 
them, and finish in us the work Thou hast begun. 
Grant us grace today to let Christ live out His life 
in us. May He so possess our spirits and so govern 
our lives, that men, beholding us, may think of Him ; 
listening to us, may hear His message; and in fellow- 
ship with us, may feel the influence of His Spirit. 
Keep us from stifling the voice within. Keep us 
from becoming so engrossed with our worldly pur- 
suits that we lose sight of the Christ Who reigns 
in our souls, and Who is our very life. Lord Jesus, 
make us Thine instruments, prepare us for Thy serv- 
ice, and use us as Thou wilt for the fulfilment of 
Thy purposes. Then grant us the joy of Thine ap- 
proval. For Thine own name's sake. Amen. 



George C. Pidgeon, D.D., 
Toronto, Canada. 



OCTOBER FIFTEENTH 303 



Follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace. — II Tim. 2 : 22. 

ALMIGHTY GOD, our gracious Heavenly Father, 
we, Thy needy children, would draw near to Thee. 
We come with confidence, for Thou hast already man- 
ifested Thy interest in us this day. Thou hast called 
the light out of darkness, and so ushered in for us a 
new day. Thou hast raised us from rest in slumber, 
and so given us a new opportunity to do Thy will. 

Add, we beseech Thee, to these evidences of Thy 
favor, all needed goodness and mercy; goodness to 
provide for our ever-returning wants of body and 
soul ; mercy to pardon our past transgressions, and to 
protect us against future temptations. Grant us also 
grace this day to manifest the Spirit of Jesus Christ 
in all we shall think, and say, and do. 

Show Thy loving favor to all who are near and 
dear to us. Guide, we pray Thee, all who occupy po- 
sitions of authority and trust in Church, in State, in 
industry, in education, in society, and in the home. 
Hasten, God, the time when every knee shall bow 
in the name of Jesus, and every tongue shall confess 
Him as Lord. These blessings, and whatever else 
Thou seest we shall need this day, we ask through 
the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, Thy Son 
and our Saviour. Amen. 



Lewis Seymoue Mudge, D.D. 
Harrisburg, Penna. 



304 OCTOBER SIXTEENTH 



Believe that ye shall receive, and ye shall have. 
— Mark 11 : 24. 



OUR Father in Heaven, in the name of Jesus 
Christ, Whom having not seen we love, we draw 
near to Thee in prayer. 

We are unworthy of Thy many mercies, for we have 
sinned against Thee, but we know Thou wilt not de- 
spise the humble and contrite heart. 

We thank Thee for life and its sustenance; for 
home, with all its comforts; for our loved ones and 
friends; and above all, for Jesus, Who loved us and 
gave Himself for us. May we be enabled to follow in 
His footsteps, doing as He would have done, speaking 
as He would have spoken, and denying ourselves that 
others may be blessed. 

Bless to us Thy holy Word. Enable us to live ac- 
cording to its divine teaching. In all our intercourse 
with our fellow-men, give us grace to be patient, for- 
giving, loving and kind, and to influence others for 
good. Forgive us our many sins, and keep us by Thy 
almighty power through faith unto salvation. 

We ask everything in the name and for the sako of 
Jesus Christ, our adorable Redeemer. Amen. 



William H. Scott, 
Philadelphia, Penna. 



OCTOBER SEVENTEENTH 305 



Follow after righteousness, godliness, faith. — I Tim. 6 : 11. 



OUR Father, teach us how to speak to Thee. May 
Thy Spirit lead us into the light, for we know 
so little about Thee and are so dull and slow to 
learn. Wilt Thou forgive us when we do wrong, and 
keep us from going away from Thee. Good Shep- 
herd, the wilderness is so large, and we are weak and 
so easily lose our way. Keep us from the wild beasts 
of sin, and may we never miss the path that leads to 
Thy fold. 

Bless our home today, and all who are in it. May 
we always be gentle and loving, and seek to make all 
about us happy. Help us to have a shining face, and 
especially when we meet Thy other children who are 
sad and in trouble. Teach us to do as Jesus did when 
He forgot all about Himself in trying to help others. 

We thank Thee for all the good and beautiful things 
Thou art giving us every day. We pray Thee to help 
us to help Thee to make Thy world good and happy. 

And this we ask in the name of our Elder Brother, 
Christ, Who loved us and gave Himself for us. Amen. 



Chaeles R. Flanders, D.D. 
London, Ont., Canada. 



306 OCTOBER EIGHTEENTH 



The prayer of the upright is His delight. — Prov. 15 : 8. 

LORD, teach us how to pray ; for we know not how 
to pray as we ought. Thou hast bidden us in 
everything, by prayer and supplication with thanks- 
giving, to make our requests known unto Thee. Thou 
hast given us so many wonderful promises in respect 
of prayer that we cannot but believe that prayer is 
the open way between us and Thee. 

Thou art our Father, and we trust Thee and know 
that Thou canst never contradict Thy love for us as 
manifested in the coming and living and dying of our 
Lord Jesus Christ. How shalt Thou not with Him 
freely give us all things? No withholding or even 
denial of our requests can make us doubt Thee. And 
then we remember that Thy "No" is just as real an 
answer to prayer as Thy "Yes," as when Thou didst 
say to Moses and Paul "No"; and yet, later, how 
wonderfully Thou didst answer those seemingly unan- 
swered prayers. 

Be Thou our light in darkness; our comfort in 
sorrow; our wisdom when we are perplexed; our 
strength when we are in weakness. Our desire is to 
be used of Thee. We do not want to be idle or un- 
fruitful in Thy service, even when limited in our 
opportunities. Grant this our prayer, Father, for 
Jesus' sake. Amen. 



George F. Pentecost, D.D., LL.D. 
Philadelphia, Fewna. 



OCTOBER NINETEENTH 307 



The God of love and peace shall be with you. 
—II Cor. 13 : 11. 

OUR Father in Heaven, Thou Who carest for all 
the families of the earth, grant to this family 
a consciousness of Thy presence and love. May we 
be ever careful lest by word or deed we bring dis- 
honor to Thy matchless name. Follow us as we go 
to the tasks of today. May we be strong in Thy 
strength; courageous because of Thy promises; and 
humble, in view of our constant dependence upon 
Thee. ; 

May the Angel of the Lord encamp round about the 
absent ones; guard them from evil, and inspire them 
for service. Give us all hearts of pity for those who 
are in need, sympathy for the weak, and willingness 
to lift up the fallen. Forbid that we should be con- 
tent with our own plenty, or proud in our own ac- 
complishments, but as children may we ever be anx- 
ious for the glory of our Father's name, and thank- 
ful for His care. Forgive us for that wherein we 
have failed; forgive us for willfulness and downright 
sin. 

When the great homecoming takes place, and we 
are in the Father's house, may every member of this 
family be among the "multitude that no man can 
number," serving Thee as we cannot here. This we 
ask for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our 
Saviour. Amen. 

Rev. J. R. Webb, 

Peterborough, Ont., Canada. 



308 OCTOBER TWENTIETH 



Believe ye that I am able to do this? — Matt. 9 : 28. 

OGOD, our Heavenly Father, we give Thee thanks 
for all that makes Thee known to us, and for 
all the good things that Thou hast given us. We 
praise Thee that our household has once more been 
preserved to meet in health and to join in common 
thanksgiving unto Thee, the Most Holy God, the Eter- 
nal Providence. 

We pray Thee to forgive all our sins, and to cleanse 
our hearts by the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit. 
Accompany us into the duties of each day, and give 
us strength for every need. 

Preserve us from all danger, defend us from all 
error of heart, deliver us out of every temptation, 
save us from murmuring against our lot or grieving 
over our losses, save us from envy and pride, from 
hate and untruth, from waste of time and excessive 
pleasure, and from all worldliness. May we be dili- 
gent in business, fervent in spirit, serving Thee, our 
Lord. We pray Thee in behalf of our neighbors and 
friends. May both we and they be blest in our mu- 
tual intercourse. Bless the poor and needy, the sick 
and desolate and defenseless, and bring back the lost 
ones to Thy home and heart. 

We ask it all in the name of Thy dear Son, our 
Saviour and Lord. Amen. 



W. T. G. Brown, B.A., B.D., 

Toronto, Canada. 



OCTOBER TWENTY-F I RST 309 



The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, faith. — Gal. 5 : 22. 

OUR Heavenly Father, we turn to Thee in grati- 
tude for Thy goodness, and in loving dependence 
upon Thy grace. Thou art our shield, our strength, 
our guide. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Thou 
dost forgive our sins. We trust in Thee alone. Our 
feeble strength can give no security in temptation, 
nor firmness in trial. We humbly pray for Thy sus- 
taining grace today. May Thy companionship trans- 
form our daily tasks and make our weakness strong. 

Grant to us hearts of compassion for the sorrowing, 
tempted, hopeless ones whose lives shall touch ours 
today. May we follow our Saviour in helpful minis- 
try, and may His Spirit go out from us to lead men 
unto Him Who alone can bless. 

May Thy Holy Spirit enable us to set ourselves 
firmly against the evils which destroy the souls of 
men, and do our part of the work that is needed for 
the coming of Thy Kingdom. Help us to be faithful 
and true in thought, word and deed, that we may not 
add to the sum of the world's evil, but may purify 
and enlighten all the life about us. 

These things we ask in the name of our Lord and 
Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. 



Robert E. Vinson, D.D., 
Austin, Texas. 



310 OCTOBER TWENTY-SECOND 



My tongue shall speak of Thy righteousness and praise. 
— Ps. 35 : 28. 

OUR Heavenly Father, we rejoice in Thy love. The 
knowledge of Thy love for us casts out all our 
fear as we approach Thee in prayer. Thy love has 
redeemed us, and moment by moment we are kept by 
the power of Thy love. That we may glorify Thee, 
that the world may know that we love Thee, help us 
to be kind and courteous and honest in all the rela- 
tions of life. Give us the mind that was in Christ 
Jesus. Show us our duty and privileges as His fol- 
lowers. Help us with open eye to see the truth, and 
with open heart to receive it, and grant us grace in 
all things to do Thy holy will. We thank Thee, 
Heavenly Father, that Thou hast supplied all our 
needs. We have wanted for no good thing. We con- 
fidently trust Thee for the future. We put our all in 
Thy hands, knowing Thou wilt never fail us. Be 
about our homes and loved ones today. Beat back 
all that disturbs human peace and mars human happi- 
ness. Deliver us from all evil. 

Bless and prosper the cause of Christ our Saviour 
in the Church and throughout the world. Bring many 
today, by the way of the cross, into Thy Kingdom. 
Save the lost. We ask all this, with the forgiveness 
of our sins, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



Rev. Chables Henry Pinchbeck, 
Baltimore, Maryland. 



OCTOBER TWENTY-THIRD 311 



Save Thy peopl-e, and bless Thine inheritance. — Ps. 28 : 9. 

OUR Gracious and kind Heavenly Father! We 
lift our hearts to Thee at dawn, though we pain- 
fully recognize and feel our unworthiness of Thy un- 
counted mercies which are new every morning and 
fresh every evening. We throw ourselves upon Thy 
clemency. Put Thy protecting hand, with its tender 
touch, upon our drooping heads, and though we ven- 
ture not to look up, may we hear Thy reassuring and 
forgiving voice. Here we are grouped together at the 
foot of Thy cross, because we know Thou hast room 
for us all in Thy great yearning heart. We long for 
Thy tender caress and Thy smile of forgiveness. Put 
about us Thy everlasting mighty arms, and carry us 
safely through this day. As we take up life's busi- 
ness afresh and hasten out into the wild hurry of the 
world, be Thou ever near us. Be Thou our traveling 
companion. We need Thy presence every passing mo- 
ment. For the gift of Thy Son, our adorable Christ, 
we thank Thee, O God. He brought eternal calm to 
our surging hearts, and made our sin-tattered lives 
to rejoice. Give us a new vision of Him as we toil 
this day. May we see the rift in the clouds as we 
look up to behold Him. Soften our hearts, direct our 
thoughts, steady our step, and shelter us by Thy care 
until our traveling days are done, we humbly ask in 
Jesus' name. Amen. 



Rev. F. W. Mueller, 
Cleveland. Ohio. 



312 OCTOBER TWENTY-FOURTH 



And make confession unto Him. — Josh. 7 : 19. 

OUR Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for keeping 
guard over us during the night. We laid us 
down and slept; we awakened because Thou didst 
sustain us. Thou hast opened to us the gateway 
of this new day and set before us open doors of 
fresh opportunity and privilege. As we go forth to 
new duties and responsibilities, we pray for Thy pres- 
ence to go with us. Strengthen us in our weakness, 
guide us in our ignorance, and inspire us both to will 
and to do according to Thy good pleasure. Enable us 
to present our bodies a living sacrifice, Avholly accept- 
able unto Thee, which is our reasonable service. We 
commit to Thee all our loved ones, and beseech Thee 
that Thy Spirit may so control their hearts and guide 
their lives as to save them from forgetfulness of 
Thee, and from neglect of Thy claims. Remember 
those in authority over us. Put Thy fear in their 
hearts, that they may faithfully discharge their re- 
sponsible duties. May Thy Spirit rest on all our 
people, causing us to lead peaceable, quiet and orderly 
lives. Hasten the triumphs of Thy Kingdom, until all 
hearts shall be brought under the rule of Christ, and 
the whole family of man shall constitute a brother- 
hood bound together by the bond of Christian love. 
These blessings we ask, with the forgiveness of our 
sins, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 



R. C. Reed, D.D., 
Columbia, 8. C. 



OCTOBER TWENTY-FIFTH 313 



He hath showed thee, O man, what is good ; and what 
doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love 
mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. — Micah 6 : 8. 



ALMIGHTY GOD, Whom truly to know is ever- 
lasting life, we draw near to Thee at the begin- 
ning of this day, desiring to know Thee as the Father 
of our spirits, and to refresh our spirits in Thy 
eternal goodness. As we draw near to Thee in wor- 
ship, we pray that Thou wilt draw near to us in 
blessing and in inspiration. Grant us, we beseech 
Thee, the things of which Thou seest our need. We 
ask for health, for opportunity, and for a willing 
mind that finds delight in fruitful labor. Grant us 
the consciousness of sin forgiven, that in our labors 
and undertakings there may be no sad friction of 
remorse and shame. 

Grant us the blessing of friendship greatly widen- 
ed. We would not think of ourselves as too good 
to mingle with the humblest. We would not live 
apart from others in hope and sympathy. Rather do 
we seek from Thee the gladness of the common life 
of all Thy children, and the sweetness of its univer- 
sal hope. Thou Who hast made us of one blood, help 
us to toil and hope and suffer and rejoice as brethren, 
that in our common life Thy purpose may be glori- 
fied, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



Rev. Howard Chandler Robbins, 
New York City, N. Y. 



314 OCTOBER TWENTY-SIXTH 



They believed the Scripture. — .John 2 : 22. 

OUR Father Who art in Heaven, we praise Thee 
for the grace which permits us to look upon an- 
other day. Wondrous is Thy love. We frail children 
of earth bow for a moment to receive the benediction 
of Thy infinite Motherhood and omnipotent Father- 
hood. Forth we go to battle and to toil. We dare 
not go alone. Temptation will crouch beside our 
pathway. Some of us may come upon dangers sud- 
denly. Do Thou befriend us. When the duties of the 
day are done, may it please Thee to gather us at even- 
tide an unbroken, happy family, with no stain of sin 
upon our garments. The Church we love, do Thou 
bless it. May the Holy Spirit abide with the pastor 
and all the people. We love our native land. Do 
Thou save it. For the whole world we offer our hum- 
ble prayer. Thy Kingdom come. Great Son of God, 
dear Prince of Peace, why dost Thou tarry? Human- 
ity dies. Give us hearts to bleed and hands to bless. 
Pity the men who have no home, and protect the 
women who toil and are weak. Send us from this 
trysting place to laugh and love and labor in the 
strength of Him Who said, "Inasmuch as ye did it 
unto one of the least of these, ye did it unto me." 
Lord, we thank Thee for Thy promised strength. 
A men. 



Rev. David Otis Cowxes, 
Jersey City, N. J. 



OCTOBER TW ENTY-SEVENTH 315 

Ye are My friends if ye do whatsoever I command you. 
— John 15 : 14. 

OUR Heavenly Father, we bless Thee for Thy great 
gifts to us, Thy children— that there is pro- 
vision for all our needs. We thank Thee for the 
power given to men to bless and gladden one another 
by the warmth of love, the truth and tenderness of 
friendship, and to support each other in all good. 
Mav we accept this great gift with a sense of re- 
sponsibility. Let not the wealth of human love be- 
stowed upon us be wasted or despised— the tender 
care lavished on us in our early days, the love ot 
parents, the patience of teachers, the wisdom ot coun- 
sellors, all the sweet charities of home, the joy and 
strength of true human intercourse. 

As we have received of love, so may we give. May 
we learn the deep lessons of love— self-denial, pa- 
tience, helpfulness, sympathy, and growth in gracious 
living. May the discipline of love train us in con- 
stancy and true virtues. May we use the love with 
which we have been dowered to panoply us against 
evil, to preserve us under the manifold dangers and 
temptations of the world. . 

Bless our friends— may they and we be friends of 
God. Above all, may our experience of earthly love 
bring us nearer to Thy love, Thou Lover of our 
souls! Amen. 

Hugh Biack, D.D., 
ttew York City. 



316 OCTOBER TWENTY-EIGHTH 



The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble ; and 
He knoweth them that trust in Him. — Nah. 1 : 7. 



OUR Father, we thank Thee for Thy revelation of 
love through Jesus Christ, and for all that He 
has brought to our lives of inspiration and guidance 
and hope. We thank Thee for the tasks Thou hast 
given us, and for Thy presence and help as we under- 
take them. Help us, we pray, to live in unbroken 
companionship with Thee; to draw life from Thy life; 
to show Thee forth as we have to do with our fellow- 
men in the ways of common life. Be quick to strength- 
en us when* the lure of the world is strong upon us, 
and when we are tempted to put the things that per- 
ish above the things that are eternal. Give us a great 
hunger after righteousness, and help us to be genuine 
in all that we do and say and think. 

As Thy disciples, Christ, may we come to be more 
like Thee each day, as in ever-increasing measure the 
spirit which was in Thee comes to dwell in us. Help 
us to love God and our neighbors with all our hearts. 
Keep us from selfishness. Forgive our sins, for Thy 
name's sake. Amen. 



Lathan A. Crandaix, D.D., 
Minneapolis^ Minn. 



OCTOBER TWENTY-NINTH 317 



While ye have Light, believe in the Light. — John 12 : 36. 

ALMIGHTY GOD, our Heavenly Father, we come 
with reverence to Thy mercy seat, honoring and 
praising Thy Holy Xame. 

We thank Thee for the revelation Thou hast made 
of Thyself in Thy Holy Word; in the beautiful works 
of nature ; and by Thy Spirit in our hearts. 

We confess our unworthiness of Thy blessings, for 
we have sinned, forgetful of Thy commands and of 
Thine infinite, eternal, unchangeable love. Father, 
forgive us for Christ's sake. 

We thank Thee for our home and loved ones, and 
for all of life's comforts and joys. Bless every mem- 
ber of our family. Abide with us in our home; and 
when our days on earth are numbered, may our hearts 
rejoice in the assurance that our Saviour has pre- 
pared a place for us in His house of many mansions 
— the house not made with hands, eternal in the 
heavens — and there may we meet again our dear ones 
who have gone before us, and all who may come after 
us; and the glory of our salvation shall be. not unto 
us, but unto Thee, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the 
only living and true God, as it was in the beginning, 
is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 



Francis B. Reeves, 
Philadelphia, Penna. 



318 OCTOBER THIRTIETH 



If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it. 
—John 14 : 14. 

OUR Father, Who through another night hast 
kept us with the loving care a mother might 
show to her infant child, while in the land of sleep 
and all unmindful of the world about us, we have 
been with Thee; though to the darkness of the night 
has been added the closing of our eyes, Thou hast 
seen us. Unconscious we have been, as though we 
dwelt in the land of death, but Thou hast been mind- 
ful of us. 

From dangers all unseen Thou hast protected us; 
from the land of mystic shadows to the light of a 
new day Thou hast brought us. We give Thee thanks. 
Ajid now, O Father, the day is ours — Thy priceless 
gift. Help us this day to love Thee. Help us this 
day to do Thy will. Help us to be patient, kind and 
true. 

Through all this day may we remember that all 
men are Thy children. Help us to show our love to 
Thee by being helpful to our fellows. Help us to be 
clean in thought and word and deed. And when again 
we return to the land of refreshing sleep, if we no 
more should awake on earth, may we awake with 
Thee. Amen. 



Rev. F. B. Stockdale, 
Brooklyn, N. Y. 



OCTOBER THIRTY-FIRST 319 



Forgiving one another, as God for Christ's sake hath for- 
given you. — Bph. 4 : 32. 



o 



,UR Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for protec- 
tion and sleep through the night, and for the 
blessing of a new day. We beseech Thee to guide ua 
through all its hours, giving us wisdom to understand 
and grace to do Thy will. Among ourselves, and 
among all with whom we have to do, enable us to 
keep and show the Spirit of Christ. 

We pray Thee to bless the children, with their com- 
panions and teachers, and do Thou teach them always 
to be fair, to love truth and hate a lie. Guard our 
absent dear ones, keeping their hearts pure and their 
hands clean, and grant them health and prosperity, 
according to Thy will. 

We ask Thy blessing upon our neighbors, and espe- 
cially upon any in sorrow or sickness or business 
trials, or any trouble, that their faith and courage 
fail not, and that under Thy blessing they may come 
to a better day. We pray for all who have yielded to 
temptation, and all who refuse Jesus Christ, that 
through repentance and faith Thou mayest bring them 
to an assured salvation. Keep us humble and watch- 
ful and prayerful through all the day, and help us to 
consider others rather than to please ourselves. For- 
give our sins; fit us for our tasks, in Jesus' name. 
Amen. 



George N. Luccock, D.D. 
Oak Park, Illinois. 



320 NOVEMBER FIRST 



Now abideth faith., hope, love. — f Cor. 13 : 13. 

OUR Father, Who art in Heaven, we thank Thee 
for Thy wonderful love to us — a love that is infi- 
nite and eternal, a love that will not let us go. We 
love Thee, we adore Thee, we praise Thee, yet we 
humbly confess that we have not always loved Thee 
with our whole hearts, and that we have not always 
loved our neighbor as ourselves. In many ways we 
have sinned and come short of Thy glory. Have 
mercy upon us, God, according to Thy loving kind- 
ness and according to the multitude of Thy tender 
mercies blot out our transgressions. Abide in our 
home today. May it be none other than the house of 
God, and the very gate of Heaven. Send us to our 
daily duties with the conviction that we are about 
our Father's business. May we live and labor and 
love as seeing Him Who is invisible. Grant that we 
may be Christlike in all of our dealings with others, 
whether it be in the home, or in the social circle, or 
out in the business world. Unify and purify Thy 
Church, Christ. Make it a great soul-winning 
Church. Thy Kingdom come! Thy will be done on 
earth as it is in Heaven. Our prayer we humbly make 
in the name of the Lord Jesus, Who loved us and gave 
Himself for us. Amen. 



Walter L. Lingle, D.D., 
Richmond, Virginia. 



NOVEMBER SECOND 321 

Commit thy way unto the Lord. — Ps. 37 : 5. 

OGOD we come to Thee as children come to their 
father to ask for Thy loving care and protec- 
tion We know not what awaits us of joy or sorrow, 
of life or death, and before we enter this untried, un- 
known future we would commit our way to Thee, re- 
membering Thv promise that Thou wilt direct our 
paths. We thank Thee for the common blessings of 
life which have come to us so noiselessly as to be 
almost unnoticed and forgotten. We thank Thee ror 
the special blessings which are the evidences of lhy 
personal care over us. Because of Thy promise of 
forgiveness, we come and ask Thy mercy for our sms, 
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. We pray that Thou 
wilt give us moment by moment both spiritual and 
material blessings. Help us to trust Thee when 
we cannot understand, knowing Thy word is true that 
all things work together for good to them that love 
God. We prav that all those who belong to us may 
belong to Thee, and that Thy benefits and blessings 
may extend to all mankind everywhere. Hasten the 
day when Christ shall reign in every home and heart 
throughout the entire world. May not one of our 
dear ones and friends be missing in that land of glad 
and blessed reunion beyond the valley of the shadow. 
We give Thee praise for the privilege of prayer and 
for the gifts which have been and will be our3 because 
of Thy loving kindness and tender mercy. Amen. 

Johnston Myers, D.D., 
Chicago, Illinois. 



322 NOVEMBER THIRD 



Jesus departed into a solitary place and there prayed. 
— JMark 1 : 35. 

OGOD, our Father, in the opening of the new day 
we look up into Thy face to thank Thee for the 
care of the night and for the joy of another morning. 

The new day will bring its blessings; may we be 
able to see and seize them. In the new day we shall 
have opportunity — opportunity to be kind — may we 
remember that kind words can never die. 

We shall have opportunity to bear or share an- 
other's burden; may we, like the Great Burden 
Bearer, tenderly, tactfully enter into and share the 
needs of others. 

Joys may come, sorrows may fall upon our hearts, 
surprises may wait us at some turn in the way, but 
do Thou, ever-present, loving Father, show us that no 
joy or sorrow or surprise can come to us, Thy chil- 
dren, without Thy knowledge. 

Teach us to thank Thee for the joys; to remember, 
when we must weep, that "Jesus wept" ; and to trust 
all the unexpected — the surprises — to Him Wiho doeth 
all things well, and to radiantly hope for the day 
when "we shall know, even as we are known." Amen. 



A. E. Piper, D.D., 
Wilkes-Barre, Penna. 



NOVEMBER FOURTH 323 



Believe that ye shall receive them, and ye shall have 
them. — Mark 11 : 24. 

ALMIGHTY GOD, our Father in Heaven, God and 
Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 
we would wait on Thee that Thy Holy Spirit may 
enable us to worship Thee. We are not worthy of the 
least of Thy mercies, yet hast Thou enriched us in all 
needed good things. We pray Thee to search us and 
show us our sins; and, as we confess, we would trust 
Thee to forgive, and to cleanse us from all unright- 
eousness. We would thank Thee for the blessings 
Thou hast bestowed upon us, and trust Thee to give 
us what is best for us. We pray Thee to bless all 
who are dear to us, and if we have any enemies, bless 
them and give us right spirits toward them. If any 
dear to us are unsaved, bring them to repentance and 
faith in our Saviour, to serve Him as Lord. Jesus 
is the true vine. We who are His disciples are the 
branches. Enable us to abide in Him, and may the 
Holy Spirit bring forth from His life the fruit of the 
Spirit in our lives. Bring Thy people up to the help 
of the Lord against the mighty. Send forth Thy 
light and truth. Send forth laborers into Thy har- 
vest, and bless the labors of those whom Thou hast 
already sent forth. Give us some place and part this 
day in Thy service. We ask all for Jesus' sake. 
Amen. 



A. D. McClttee, D.D., 
Wilmington, A 7 . C. 



324 NOVEMBER FIFTH 



We trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, 
specially of those that believe. — I Tim. 4 : 10. 



OUR God and Father, for the protecting care of 
the night we give Thee thanks. For the new- 
day, a free gift of Thine, with its message of renewal 
and tireless interest on the part of our Father, we 
give Thee thanks. Teach us anew with this new day 
the meaning of home, friendships, and opportunity to 
do our work for God and our fellow-men. 

Set our faces in the right direction as we go out 
to live another day. Fortify us that we may not be 
overcome by any evil. Restrain us from any untoward 
tendencies. If the way grow dark, cause us to see Thy 
light. If loneliness should be our lot, let us be mind- 
ful of Thy companionship. 

By Thy help may we add some joy to other lives, 
and live out this day with the blessed thought of 
having done something worth while. 

And as the shadows of the evening creep over us 
we would again give thanks and commit ourselves 
anew to Him Who careth for all. We make our re- 
quests in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. 



Rev. Clarence W. Kemper, 
Minneapolis, Minn. 



NOVEMBER SIXTH 325 



As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. — Matt. 8 : 13. 

OUR Father in Heaven, as children come to an 
earthly parent, so we, Thy children, come to 
Thee. We acknowledge Thy goodness in keeping us 
in safety during the night, and in the mercies renewed 
to us with the return of the day. While we have been 
locked in slumber, Thou hast not suffered any harm 
to befall us. We have lain us down in peace and 
slept because Thou hast sustained us, and the morn- 
ing of a new day finds us with renewed vigor for its 
labor and toil. 

As the day brings to us fresh obligations, fit us for 
their discharge. As new temptations make their ap- 
peal to us, strengthen us for their resistance. In new 
battles we may have to fight, lead us to victory. For- 
tify us against the evil we may have to meet, and 
make us responsive to every uplifting and helpful in- 
fluence. May the evil tendencies in our nature con- 
stantly grow less insistent. May the spirit of love 
to Thee and to all become the fixed characteristic of 
our lives. 

Accept our gratitude for daily renewed mercies. 
Give us pardon for all our sins. Keep us as a family 
from harm and evil today, and when our days on 
earth are past, bring us to the Heavenly home. We 
ask it in Christ's name. Amen. 



Rev. J. W. Stewart, 

Owen Sound, Ont., Canada. 



326 NOVEMBER SEVENTH 



This is His commandment, that we believe. — I John 3 : 23. 

OUR Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy 
name. We thank Thee for the day that is be- 
fore us, with its opportunities, its privileges, its un- 
expected pleasures, and its disappointments as well. 
We rejoice in the opportunity to serve Thee, to wit- 
ness for Thee in our intercourse with men. May we 
be ever ready to display a sympathetic interest in the 
welfare of those with whom we mingle in the home, 
the train, the busy street, the office and the shop. A3 
we look back over the life of our Lord, we find that 
wherever He moved among men they were conscious 
of a rising hope within them, their spirits were 
quickened, and they faced life's tasks with new cour- 
age and hopefulness. Grant, our Father, that we, too, 
may be used this day, through the Holy Spirit, in 
making Christ very real to someone. May we find 
keen enjoyment in the work which we have been called 
upon to do, and may we seek to know Thy will in the 
commonplace duties which in Thy providence have 
been assigned to us. When discouragement confronts 
us and when obstacles are placed in our paths — yes, 
even when perhaps we may not have any tangible 
evidence on which to base our hope — may we then 
trust Thee fully and completely, for Thou art our 
Father and our God. A men. 



S. Earle Hoover, 
Philadelphia, Pewna. 



NOVEMBER EIGHTH 327 



Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and 
hyp^ris e S e and y envies, and all evil speakings. As new- 
born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye 
may grow thereby. — I Peter 2 : 1-2. 

OLORD our God, we desire to thank Thee sincerely 
for Thy never-failing love and mercy unto us. 
For all the great temporal blessings, and especially 
for the gift of Jesus Christ our Saviour, we bless and 
praise Thy Holy Name. ..*..■ ii „« 

Cleanse our hearts, we beseech Thee from all un- 
righteousness, and forgive wherein we have failed to 
do Thy will. Grant unto us the strength we need to 
overcome temptation, and to be brave and cheerful 
amid the trials and sorrows of life. May the light 
of Thy truth shine into our hearts, dispelling the 
darkness of fear and unbelief. , 

Help us, O Lord, to be more generous m our 'judg- 
ment of others. May Thy wondrous love fill and flood 
our hearts, making us to be kind and sympathetic in 
our treatment of those whose lives we touch day by 

da We pray that Thy blessing may descend upon the 
people of all lands. May the day soon come when the 
good news of salvation shall have been made known 
to all mankind. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 



Rev. Joseph Janes, M.A., 
Ingersoll, Out., Canada. 



328 NOVEMBER NINTH 



Be not afraid, only believe. — Mark 5 : 36. 

OUR Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for the 
child's right of approach and of expectancy. 
Humbly pleading Thy promises, relying alone upon 
the merits of Thy Son, we pray; in our sorrow, send 
the Comforter. 

In our helplessness, supply efficiency for service. In 
our ignorance and loneliness, show us the way where- 
in Thou wilt walk with us. 

Dwell Thou within us, that we sin no more against 
Thee, that Thy will be our pleasure, Thy cause our 
masked passion. Give us the courage of faith, the 
consolation of conscious forgiveness, and the blessed 
assurance that underneath are the everlasting arms. 
Make us to cleave to that which is good, and abhor 
that which is evil. 

Above all, Thou Giver and supreme Lover of life, 
we pray for ourselves not only, but for all men and 
women, and particularly for all children, that Thou 
wilt give everlasting life — saving spiritual life, vig- 
orous physical life, pure social life, beneficent mental 
life — all the life there is that is worth having, for we 
ask it in His name Who lovingly confided to us, "I 
am come that ye might have life, and that ye might 
have it abundantly." Amen. 



Ira Landbith, D.D., LL.D., 

Boston, Massachusetts. 



NOVEMBER TENTH 329 



It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to 
sing praises unto Thy name, O Most High ; to show forth 
Thy loving kindness in the morning and Thy faithfulness 
every night. For Thou, Lord, hast made me glad through 
■Thy work : I will triumph in the work of Thy hands. — 
Ps*. S2 : 1-2, 4. 



OUR loving Father in Heaven, we come to Thee 
as the good All-Father that cares for us here 
below, realizing our many wants, but "our God can 
supply all our needs according to His riches in glory 
by Jesus Christ." Teach us also, dear Lord, to realize 
fully our many infirmities. "Teach me to know how 
frail I am," and notwithstanding all, may we go to 
Thee as children to an earthly parent — trustfully, be- 
lievingly, and in full confidence that Thou wilt lead 
our steps aright. Bless our children, loving Saviour, 
and as they grow up to manhood's and womanhood's 
stature, may they grow into the measure of the stat- 
ure of the fullness of Jesus Christ. Prepare us today 
for all that Thou art preparing for us. Make us pa- 
tient, loving, thoughtful and helpful. Bless each one 
of us, and, what is far better, make us a blessing. 
For Jesus' sake we ask it. Amen. 



Rev. P. C. Cameron, B.A., 
Berlin, Ont. } Canada. 



330 NOVEMBER ELEVENTH 



Ye shall see Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me 
with all your heart. — Jer. 29 : 13. 



OTHOU, with Whom to dwell is the light of life 
and from Whom to depart is the shadow of 
death, grant us the joy of Thine abiding presence this 
day, that in us there may be no darkness at all. We 
are not children of the darkness, Father, but our 
paths this day may lead us into the midst of human 
sorrow and strife and sin. May we walk as befits 
the children of the Light! 

Give us, we pray Thee, open and alert minds to dis- 
cover Thy will, and a holy purpose both to love and 
to do it. Help us to be true in the midst of all that 
is false, pure where evil most abounds, friendly to the 
friendless, and bearers of our brothers' burdens for 
our Saviour's sake. Take away, we pray Thee, all the 
guilt of our sin, and give us the joy of the victorious 
life through our divine Redeemer. 

At the close of this day bring us, with spirits un- 
troubled and unashamed, to our own firesides, where, 
by Thy grace, we may find rest, and the peace that 
passeth understanding. 

All of this we ask for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy 
Son, our Saviour. Amen. 



William Hibam Fotjlkes, D.D., LL.D. 
Philadelphia, Penna. 



NOVEMBER TWELFTH 331 



We will show forth Thy praise. — Ps. 79 : 13. 

AS WE present ourselves before the throne of Thy 
power, Lord, we come to praise Thy name and 
to bring with us a large petition. We ask, nay, even 
with boldness we claim the inheritance left us by our 
Elder Brother, His peace — the peace which the world 
cannot give, and which the world cannot take away. 

We dare not ask for wealth, with all its allurement 
to worldliness; we dare not ask for length of days, 
with prospect of aged weakness and dependence; we 
dare not ask for preferment among our brethren, real- 
izing that if we honor ourselves, our honor is noth- 
ing; we dare not ask for freedom from sorrow, re- 
membering that they who are not of this world shall 
in the world have tribulation; but we do ask, our 
Father, that in perfect peace we may rest in Thee, 
knowing that He that spared not His own Son, but 
delivered Him up for us all, shall with Him also freely 
give us all things. Grant, Lord, that the peace of 
God which passeth all understanding, may keep our 
hearts and minds through abundance of grace in 
Christ our Redeemer. 

This our prayer we make in the name of Him Who 
loveth us and gave Himself for us, even Jesus Christ 
our Righteousness. Amen. 



John W. Fbiend, 
Petersburg, Virginia. 



332 NOVEMBER THIRTEENTH 



Let my mouth be filled with Thy praise. — Ps. 71 : 8. 

WE THANK Thee, Lord, that Thou hast been 
our dwelling place in all generations. Before 
the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst 
formed the earth and the world, even from everlast- 
ing to everlasting Thou art God. 

We thank Thee that the Word became flesh and 
dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. We are 
grateful to Thee that He took upon Himself the form 
of a man like other men, and that He became obedient 
unto death — even death upon the cross — that we 
might have life, and have it more abundantly. 

Grant, Lord, that we, the children * of men, 
through the power of Thy Holy Spirit, may become 
like the Son of Man in mind and heart and will. 
May we be brothers to the race. Enable us to toil 
patiently up the slopes of service. Teach us to be 
willing to forgive as He forgave. We pray for all the 
nations of the earth whom Thou hast made of one 
blood. Speed the coming of Thy Kingdom upon the 
earth, that nation may no longer make war against 
nation. Hasten the coming of the day when the 
knowledge of God shall cover the earth as the waters 
now cover the sea, and bring us all at last up to that 
city whose Maker and Builder is God. Amen. 



Hoyt M. Dobbs, D.D. 
Fort Worth, Texas. 



NOVEMBER FOURTEENTH 333 



It Is good to sing praises unto our God. — Ps. 147 : 1. 

OUR Father, for such Thou hast taught us to call 
Thee, we thank Thee that we may be brought 
into Thy family through living, loving faith in Jesus 
Christ, Thy Son and our Elder Brother. And we 
thank Thee for all that may mean to us. We thank 
Thee for a Father's love. Keep us ever, we pray 
Thee, within the circle of that love. We thank 
Thee for the oversight and protection that Thou dost 
give us day by day. As we go out from the home, go 
Thou with us, and when we return at eventide may we 
bring Thee with us, to be with us in the breaking of 
bread and through all the hours of darkness, until 
morning break and the shadows flee away. Draw all 
members of the family circle into real fellowship with 
Thy Son, that we may be cleansed from all sin, and 
may be kept by His power from falling, and may be 
presented at last faultless before Thy presence with 
exceeding great joy. Make us to be more tender and 
thoughtful one of another, and of all our companions. 
Forgive all display of temper and hasty speech, give 
us the love that suffereth long and is kind. Bless 
with us all the needy and distressed. Bless all man- 
kind. Redeem the world lying in sin, and hasten the 
coming of Thy Kingdom/ through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. Amen. 



Eenest Thompson, D.D., 
Charleston, West Virginia. 



334 NOVEMBER FIFTEENTH 



I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and 
my supplications. Because He hath inclined His ear unto 
me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live. The 
sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat 
hold upon me : I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I 
upon the name of the Lord ; O Lord, I beseech Thee, de- 
liver my soul. Gracious is the Lord, and righteous ; yea, 
our God is merciful. — Ps. 116 : 1-5. 



OUR. Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for this 
new day, with its privileges and opportunities. 
May we in gratitude for Thy love and mercy, serve 
Thee today with sincere hearts. Give us grace to do 
Thy will, and to accept Thy purposes for us in the 
spirit of joyful obedience, believing that Thy will is 
always best. 

Keep our hearts from sin, our minds pure, and our 
motives true. Forgive us when we fail. Grant that 
we may consecrate the commonplace duties of the day 
with the consciousness of Thy presence. Whether the 
day brings prosperity or loss, sunshine or shadow, 
blessings or bereavement, may our faith remain firm, 
our love unfailing, our hope undaunted. Through us 
today may mankind be blessed, and the coming of Thy 
Kingdom hastened, for His name's sake, Amen. 



Rev. H. H. Bingham, B.A., 

London,, Ont., Canada. 



NOVEMBER SIXTEENTH 335 



Ask -what ye will, and it shall be done unto thee. 
— John W : 7. 



OGOD our Father, Thou hast watched us during 
the hours of sleep, and under the shadow of Thy 
wings we have rested in safety. Grant that now, 
when we awake, we may be still with Thee. May we 
walk with Thee and work with Thee through all the 
hours of the day, seeing Thee in all the life about us, 
and finding it our meat to do the will of Him Who 
sent us, and to finish His work. 

In the busiest moments, may we never quite lose 
sight of Thee, or slacken the hold of our souls upon 
the things that are eternal. 

Defend us from all dangers, but above all from our 
own faults and weaknesses. Help us so to pass 
through this day that we shall cast no shade on other 
lives, but shall bring brightness into the world about 
us. 

And when the day draws to an end, may we have 
the quiet joy of knowing that, by Thy grace, we have 
been able to win and to manifest something of that 
eternal life which is found in doing justly, with lov- 
ing kindness, and walking humbly with God. In the 
name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 



William Piebson Merrill, D.D. 
New York City, N. Y. 



336 NOVEMBER SEVENTEENTH 



Praise the Lord, call upon His name. — Isa. 12 : 4. 

ALMIGHTY GOD, our Heavenly Father, in Whom 
we live and move and have our being, from Thy 
kind hand comes down every good and perfect gift; 
and we humbly thank Thee for all Thy loving kind- 
ness to us. 

We come before Thee confessing our sins, for which 
we ask Thy forgiveness. Bless us in our bodies and 
our spirits, which are Thine. Grant us food and 
strength and clothing and shelter as we need. And 
give us grace to know and do Thy holy will. Make 
the path of duty plain before us; keep us from temp- 
tation and from sin, enabling us to glorify Thee upon 
the earth. 

Bless, too, all our loved ones whom, in the arms of 
our prayer, we would bring before Thee. Heal any 
who are* sick, comfort the sorrowful, and strengthen 
any who are faltering; grant them each one Thy 
favor, in which is life; Thy loving kindness, which is 
better than life. 

Remember graciously the community in which we 
dwell, in all its interests temporal and spiritual. 
Prosper Thy Church among us, and give success to 
its work. Bless our country, and make us that happy 
people whose God is the Lord. Send out Thy light 
and Thy truth, and hasten the coming of Thy King- 
dom. 

In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Thomas H. Law, D.D., 

Spartanburg, 8. C. 



NOVEMBER EIGHTEENTH 337 



Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the 
Spirit. — Eph. 6 : 18. 

WE COME before Thee, our Father and our _ God 
to worship, to praise Thy name, and to thank 
Thee Tor Thy £eat mercy and Thy many blessings. 
We confess ouf sins, but* we come with boldness -to 
Thy throne of grace, for our trust is in Him \\ho is 
our Advocate and our Mediator. We -pray that ^Thou 
wilt show to each one of us Thy will for his >tey and 
help us to do it, not going in our own selfish and sm- 
fu lways Lord, grant" that Thy will may be done 
more a^d more by 111 men, and that Jesus may not 
only be given a place in the throne room of our hearts 
but may we let Him be seated on the throne and 
rown Him Lord of all. Our Father, we ask that 
Thy Holv Spirit may be our comforter, our guide and 
our helper this day" May we let our light so shine 
today-in the home, on the street, at work or at play 
—that others may be drawn to Him Who is the Light 
of the World. We pray that it may be our earnest 
desire to know Christ better, and to make Him known 
Htfp us to watch and be faithful, so when He comes 
He may find us with lamps trimmed and burning. 
And all we ask is in His own blessed name. Amen. 



Rev. J. L. Read, 

Little Rock, Arkansas. 



338 NOVEMBER NINETEENTH 



Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of 
righteousness. — Rom. 6 : 18. 

HEAVENLY FATHER, we thank Thee for the rest 
which has come to our bodies in sleep. During 
the long hours of the night Thou hast been watching 
over us. Thou art always mindful of us, not only in 
the night, but also in the workaday. Help us, dear 
Father, to be as mindful of Thee as Thou art thought- 
ful 1 of us. Forbid that we forget our God. May we 
not become so occupied with worldly affairs that we 
have no time or place for Thee. 

As we talk to Thee, our sins rise like mountains 
from the deep. We are ashamed of our weaknesses. 
We confess everything, and plead for Thy forgive- 
ness. Leave us not in our humiliation, but take us 
by the hand and lift us up. Give us the assurance 
that our sins are pardoned, and help us to live this 
day as the blessed Jesus lived every day. 

We pray for the discouraged and distressed; Lord, 
give them cheer. We pray for all the people who are 
living in darkness; Lord, give them light. Wet pray 
for those who fight against themselves, against each 
other and against God; Lord, give them peace. We 
ask it all in the name of Jesus, for Thy glory and for 
our good. Amen. 



Luther E. Todd, D.D., 
St. Louis, Mo. 



NOVEMBER TWENTIETH 339 



He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High 
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say 
of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress : my God ; 
in Him will I trust. He shall cover thee with His feath- 
ers, and under His wings shalt thou trust : His truth shall 
be thy shield and buckler. — Ps. 91 : 1-2, 4. 



IN THY wisdom, Whose ways are past finding out, 
Thou hast appointed our dear ones unto tears. 
Thou hast called them into sorrow's Gethsemane, 
where great loneliness and anguish wring their hearts. 
Grant, Father, that they may meet Jesus there. This 
is all that we can pray. Our blundering lips cannot 
comfort them and our blind eyes cannot discern the 
purpose of Thy providence. But, O Father of love, 
draw these sorrowing ones close to Thyself in the 
person of the sympathetic Saviour. Through their 
tears may they see Jesus. There is no comfort but in 
Thee, O God Triune; may all who weep find Thee. Be 
Thou companionship for their perplexity, strength for 
their weakness and courage for their new life of be- 
reavement. Show them that all Thy plans for Thy 
children include two worlds. Reveal unto them the 
tenderness and humaneness of Thy sympathy; com- 
fort them as those whom a mother comforts. This we 
ask in the name of the Saviour Who sorrowed and 
wept. Amen, 



Rev. William T. Ellis, LL.D., 
Sivarthmore, Penna. 



340 NOVEMBER TWENTY-FIRST 



Ye are the salt of the earth : but if the salt have lost his 
savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good 
for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under 
foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is 
set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a 
candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick ; 
and it giveth light unto all that aTe in the house. Let 
your light so shine before men, that they may see your 
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. — 
Matt. 5 : 13-16. 



OUR Saviour and our Intercessor, Thou earnest 
into the world not to be ministered unto, but to 
minister, and to give Thy life a ransom for many. 
Thou didst go about doing good. Looking upon the 
young man, Thou didst love him. 

Thou didst weep over Jerusalem. In the spirit of 
Thy love and sacrifice for lost souls, inflame our hearts 
with a sacred passion for the redemption of men. 
Thou, the sinners' Christ, pour upon us a tender and 
undying yearning to save precious souls! Give us a 
greater zeal than our fathers had. May we take no 
neighboring saint for our standard, but dwell with 
our God for power. Amen. 



Arthur S. Phelps, D.D., 
Waterville, Maine. 



NOVEMBER TWENTY-SECOND 



341 



Ye that fear the Lord, praise Him.— Ps. 22 : 23. 

HELP us, God, this day to recognize ourselves 
as Thy children. May we call to mind and re- 
fresh ourselves with the teachings of Thy servant, who 
declared that our birth is a forgetting; that the soul 
that rises with us, our life's star, hath had elsewhere 
its setting, and cometh from afar." May we remem- 
ber that we come from God, who is our home, and 
mav we mourn the fact that we have forgotten the 
Imperial Palace whence we come and the glories we 
have known. May it be in our hearts to thank Thee, 
O Lord, that there is something in each of us which 
the weights and frosts of earth cannot suppress, which 
lives as the embers of primeval fires; those high in- 
stincts, those first affections— shadowy recollections 
which are the master light of all our seeing; a primal 
sympathy, a faith that looks through death. 

We thank Thee, Lord, for the seasons of calm 
weather, when we have sight of that immortal sea 
over which we voyaged to this y world, and back over 
which again, when the work of life is done we shall 
travel to our eternal home. In full knowledge of Thy 
way, Thy truth, Thy life, as declared through Thj 
Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, may we live to serve Thee 
every day of our lives. Amen. 



James W. Lee, D.D., 

St. Louis, Mo. 



342 NOVEMBER TWENTY-THIRD 



Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. 
—John 16 : 24. 

OGOD, our Father! We worship Thy name, and 
bless Thee for Thyself. We acknowledge Thee 
to be the source and stay of our lives. We are Thy 
creatures. Thou wilt not leave us to suffer eternal 
want; Thou wilt not leave us to lack for daily bread. 
We are Thy children; we believe ourselves descended 
from Thee. grant that we may not plead Thy Fa- 
therhood in vain! Let us not stand either as aliens 
or orphans, but as the heirs of God through promise. 
Give us, we beseech Thee, Thy Holy Spirit, that He 
may perfectly reveal to us Jesus Christ the Son. Give 
us to know Him, that we may abide in Him, and that 
His Word may abide in us. May neither prosperity 
nor the enticements of the world wean our thoughts 
and faith from Him. Pardon our sins and cleanse our 
hearts, that we may become a habitation of God 
through the Spirit; that Christ may dwell in us and 
we in Him. Guide and direct us in our intercourse 
with men. May our words and influence become a 
savor of life unto life. Show us how we may help to 
bring Thy Kingdom upon the earth. Admonish us in 
the days of health, nor forsake us in sickness and the 
hour of death. When our change shall come, give us 
to dwell forever in the house of Thy Fatherhood in 
Heaven, through the merit and grace of Jesus Christ 
Thy Son. Amm. 

Horace M. DttBose, D.D., 

Nashville, Tennessee. 



NOVEMBER TWENTY-FOURTH 



343 



Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray. «d cry 
oinnri • anri He shall hear my voice. Cast thy burden upon 
?n°e U tord Qd a?d Heshall sustain thee: He shall never suffer 
the righteous to be moved. — Ps. 5(5 : 1/, -"• 

OUR Father in Heaven, look upon us, we beseech 
Thee in Thine infinite love and compassion. 
Dwell Thou in us, that, being molded by Thy good 
Spirit, we may have fellowship with Thee as iny 
children. Help us at all times to trust Thee. Ap- 
point for us what Thou wiliest, and make us ready 
to receive with thankfulness whatsoever seemeth good 
to Thee concerning us. Go with us in every mission 
on which Thou art pleased to send us, and in iny 
service may we find rest. 

Lighten our darkness, we entreat Thee, that we may 
behofd Thv face, and, in Thy tender mercy, do Thou 
temper the storm lest our weak faith fail, lorgive 
our sins, and day by day deliver us from their power. 
We commit all our loved ones to Thy keeping. Do 
Thou watch over them and bless them. And as Thou 
givest us a taste of Thy joy in loving our friends lead 
us into the fullness of the joy of loving all whom Ihou 
loves t, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 1mm. 



William Fabqtjhabson, D.D., 
Agincourt, Ont.,Canada. 



344 NOVEMBER TWENTY-FIFTH 



Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us. — Eph. 5 : 2. 



OUR Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for having 
mercifully kept us in health and strength, and 
for filling our lives with so much of comfort and hap- 
piness. 

We pray for each one of those near and dear to us, 
and we beseech that Thou wilt keep them, and defend 
them from all evil. Enrich them with the blessing of 
Thy Holy Spirit. 

Likewise we pray for all Thy disciples of every 
creed, wherever they may be, and that Thou wilt bring 
all those now separated from Thee to a vital knowl- 
edge of Thy goodness to them, and to a desire to be- 
come Thy humble followers. 

As we pray "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done 
on earth as it is in heaven," so, Lord, may we daily 
strive by all our acts to do all that we can for the 
upbuilding and extension of Thy kingdom on earth, 
and may our lives show to all men that we are Thine. 

May we honor Thee by striving to obey Thy com- 
mand to do unto others as we would that they should 
do unto us, and so bring men to acknowledge Thee as 
their Lord and Saviour. Amen. 



Alba B. Johnson, 
Philadelphia, Penna. 



NOVEMBER TWENTY-SIXTH 



345 



I will, therefore, that men pray everywhere.— I Tim. % : 8. 

OUR Father, we art Thy children by faith in the 
Redeemer. We are Thy children when we are 
obedient and Thou art pleased; we are Thy children 
when we are wayward and in grief Thou dost chasten 
us We know that our sins are wholly displeasing to 
Thee, and they are painful to us. For Jesus sake, 

^Acceprour^eepest gratitude for Thy tender mer- 
cies inall our past, for the promise of Thy grace in 
all our needs, for the assurance of Thy presence al- 

^^fesa us in the duties to which we have been called. 
Deliver us from the fear of man. Keep us from meas- 
uring our duties by the conduct of others, and help us 
to be great in Thy sight. Let us remember that there 
are but twelve hours in the day, and the night com- 
eth. Help us to see that the great questions are is- 
sues of eternity, and may we be kept in the love of 

G °Guide, Great Jehovah, in the affairs of state; 
bless all movements and men that promote our Re- 
deemer's Kingdom; and give Thy holy bene^ction 
upon the homes wherein our loved ones dwell. In 
Jesus' name. Amen. 



Rev. J. M. Dawson, 
Waco, Texas. 



346 NOVEMBER TWENTY-SEVENTH 



Gad! said, Ask what I shall give thee.— 1 Kings 3 : 5. 

OLORD, our Father, we lift our hearts in love and 
gratitude to Thee. Thy constant mercies come 
with the morning light, and fall upon us with the 
evening shadows; without them we could not live. The 
only return we can make to Thee, for Thine own sake, 
is to love Thee and to praise Thee. All else we must 
give to others, whose needs are like our own. Help 
us to know, also, that when we worship Thee, we our- 
selves are most benefited, by minds exalted and hearts 
purified in coming into Thy holy presence. May every 
day make Thee more real to us, until at last no other 
friend shall be so near. Give us to know Thy will 
concerning us, so that we shall not grope our way 
through life, but follow Thy plan. While we would 
thankfully enjoy every creature comfort bestowed 
upon us, keep us from setting our hearts too much 
on things that perish in the using. Help us to know 
our weaknesses, that we may have sympathy for all 
who fail and sin because they do not lean on Thee. 
Enable us so to live as not to spoil a single day or 
grieve a single heart by deeds that might never be 
undone, or words that might never be recalled. And 
this we can do only by His help Who is our Saviour, 
and throusrh Whom we ask it. Amen. 



Geobge W. White, D.D., 
Oakland, California. 



NOVEMBER TWENTY-EIGHTH 347 



By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a 
place which he should after receive for an inheritance, 
obeyed ; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 
* * * For he looked for a city which hath foundations, 
whose builder and maker is God. — Heb. 11 : 8, 10. 



OUR Father, Who art in Heaven, we thank Thee 
for Thy presence in our hearts and in our home, 
for Thy loving kindness and Thy tender mercies. We 
desire to give Thee the largest possible place in our 
life, that Thine ideals for us may be realized and that 
we may fulfill our little part in Thy great plan. So 
humbly pray Thee to pardon anything in our lives 
that hinders our fellowship with Thee or our useful- 
ness to our fellow-men, and correct in our characters 
whatever is not Christlike. Teach us to trust Thee 
for all our needs, both of soul and body. 

Defend us in the time of temptation* and help us to 
realize that we are citizens of the spiritual kingdom. 
Bless all our fellow-disciples the world around. Em- 
power Thy Church that she may win great victories 
over evil, and at last receive us to be with Thee, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



Rev. W. 0. Rodgebs, 
Terre Haute, Indiana. 



348 NOVEMBER TWENTY-NINTH 



He ever liveth to make intercession for them. — Heb. 7 : 25. 

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, because of Thy 
good hand upon us in mercy, we have been 
spared during another night. Help us to trust in 
Thee, to have no will but Thy will, and to desire to 
be only what Thou wouldst have us be. We pray that 
Thou wilt show us how large is Thy pity, how great 
is Thy love, and how infinite is Thy goodness; give us 
to feel that Thou hast called us with a holy calling; 
that Thou hast put usl here to do Thy pleasure, and 
hereafter to enjoy Thee forever. Breathe into us the 
spirit of prayer and teachableness, and enable us to 
give earnest heed to the truths taught in Thy Word. 
We thank Thee for Thy holy Word, for Thy Church, 
and for all the ordinances of Thy house, and for the 
way of salvation through Christ. We bless Thee, our 
Heavenly Father, for all Thy gifts, but above all for 
Thine unspeakable gift, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. We 
rejoice in the assurance that He is now interceding 
for us. May the weary and heavy-laden come unto 
Thee and find rest unto their souls. We pray that 
Thou wilt send forth laborers into Thy harvest. Be 
Thou to all Thine own as the shadow of a great rock 
in a weary land. Speedily fill the whole earth with 
Thy glory. Make us all, Christ, joyful in hope, 
patient in suffering, active in service and abounding 
in love. We ask all these blessings in the name of 
Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Saviour. Amen. 

Robert Stuart Mac Arthur, D.D., 

Boston, Mass. 



NOVEMBER THIRTIETH 349 



Before they call, I will answer. — Isa. 65 : 24. 

JEHOVAH, our God, "How excellent is Thy name in 
all the earth." We come to Thee, acknowledging 
Thy goodness and greatness, reverently bowing in the 
name of Jesus Christ, to give Thee praise and seek at 
Thy hands the strength needed for the duties of today. 
Most humbly do we confess our sins. In thought, 
word and deed we have transgressed Thy holy laws 
and "done despite unto the Spirit of grace." We rec- 
ognize, God, our weakness and failures in life; 
when we would do good, evil is ever present. We 
have brought shame upon Thy sacred name and dis- 
honor to Thy cause. Led from the path of righteous- 
ness by the alluring influences of sin around us. But 
in Thy infinite love Thou wilt not refuse to hear or 
grant our petition. Forgive us of our many sins, and 
make possible, O God, a greater work of grace in our 
lives. Help us to be true to Thee each day. Help us 
to remember Thy mercies and to acknowledge Thee at 
all times. Strengthen us, dear Father, that in the 
hour of trial we may stand true as Thy children. 
Grant Thy blessing to all who seek Thee in truth. 
Bring back those who have wandered from Thee, that 
all may be saved. Accept this petition in the name 
of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer. A men. 



Rev. Joseph Keevil, 
Cincinnati, Ohio. 



350 DECEMBER FIRST 



I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, 
which leadeth thee. — Isa. 48 : 17. 

OGOD and Father of all the families of the earth, 
Thou art worthy of our daily love and constant 
gratitude. Thou knowest we can never be other than 
children crying to Thee for food, raiment and shelter 
for our sustenance and protection. We stretch our 
hands toward Thee to be led through paths we cannot 
know, beside which temptations lurk and snares are 
set. Deliver us, we beseech Thee, from the evil one. 

Help us to appreciate our earthly family relations, 
established and wondrously blessed by Thee. Grant that 
our home may be kept in peace and good-will among 
all of its members by that love for one another which 
casts out suspicion and fear. We consecrate it with 
all its interests to Thy care and service, that the 
yearning of our hearts for Thy approval and indwell- 
ing may bring to us godliness with contentment. 

Today, in our family worship, we confess our sins 
that He Who is faithful may forgive and cleanse us 
from all unrighteousness. As we go forth to our in- 
dividual tasks, give us courage, strength, patience and 
that wisdom which cometh down from above, which is 
first gentle, peaceable, easily to be entreated, full of 
good works. All of these blessings we ask in the name 
of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen, 



President I. N. McCash, LL.D. 
Spokane, Washington- 



DECEMBER SECOND 351 



But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their 
strength ; they shall mount up with wings as eagles ; 
they shall run, and not be weary ; and they shall walk, 
and not faint — Isa. 40 : 31. 



OUR dear Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for the 
rest, refreshment and safety of another night 
and for the light of another day. Thou art the giver 
of every good and perfect gift, and we give Thee our 
thanks for health preserved and life continued, and 
for another day with its opportunity of service. Give 
us stronger faith and confidence that we may go day 
by day, relying only on Thy sustaining strength and 
guidance. 

Preserve us from temptation and sin, and grant 
that something of good may be accomplished by us 
during the hours of light, and that we may then find, 
as the day closes, that there have been some victories 
won and some development in our spiritual experi- 
ence; and we do most humbly pray Thee that we may 
so spend all the days and nights of our earthly lives 
that when Thou dost call us hence, we may go into 
Thy presence shining and without shame, trusting 
only in the merit of Thy dear Son, our Lord, and 
this we pray for Jesus' sake. Amen. 



Walter Duncan Buchanan, D.D., 
New York City. 



352 DECEMBER THIRD 



But' we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the 
glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from 
glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. — II Cor. 

3 : 18. 



LOVING LORD, renew in us the image of our 
Creator. 

We have marred, we have lost, through sin, the 
holiness which makes men like to Thee. Transform 
us, conform us to the image of Thy dear Son — Him- 
self the express image of the Father's Person — Who 
came and died and rose again that we might be fash- 
ioned anew in the likeness of God. Give us the 
vision of Thee in Thy blessed Word, so that reflecting 
as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, we may be 
changed into the same image from glory to glory. 

Let the light of Christ's love shine in our faces as 
we go among our brothers day by day. Make us so 
like Him in all our ways that in us they shall see 
Him and be drawn to Him. Enable us to say in 
truth, "To me to live is Christ." 

Deepen within us the yearning to see His unveiled 
face in the day when we shall be satisfied when we 
awake in His likeness, Who liveth and reigneth with 
the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world with- 
out end. Amen. 



Rev. C. Armand Miller, 
Philadelphia, Penna. 



DECEMBER FOURTH 353 

My grace is sufficient for thee. — II Cor. 12 : 9. 

OUR Heavenly Father, we Thy children would 
bless Thee for the dawn of this new day, for we 
regard it as Thy gift to us. Help us, we humbly pray 
Thee, to use it wisely and well; conduct ourselves 
through all its hours that to some extent we may 
prove ourselves worthy of such a gift, and in it do 
something worth while, so that at its close we may 
feel we have not lived it in vain. For all the difficulties 
that may confront us, give us grace sufficient ; for all 
the questions we may have to decide, give wisdom; 
and for all the temptations we may have to meet, 
give us overcoming power. Keep us all the day con- 
scious of Thy companionship, and of the realities of 
the things unseen; may we increase in knowledge of 
things that matter most, and understand better the 
things we now only know in part. Reveal Thy will 
more clearly to us, and may this day see that will 
better fulfilled in us. For 'all bound to us by the 
ties of nature, faith and love we r>ray; enrich their 
lives with every good, and use them in the further- 
ance of Thy most gracious will on earth. And very 
earnestly do we pray for the hastening of the day 
when among all peoples on earth Thy kingdom will 
come, Thy will be done perfectly. Hear us, we pray 
Thee, gracious God, for we pray in the name of Thy 
blessed Son, our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ. 
Amen. 

Rev. Lewis C. Hammond, 
Cincinnati, Ohio. 



364 DECEMBER FIFTH 



For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my 
departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have 
finished my course, I have kept the faith : Henceforth 
there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which 
the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day : 
and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His 
appealing. — II Tim. 4 : 6-8. 



OUR Father, we thank Thee for the revelation of 
Thyself in Jesus Christ our Lord. We thank 
Thee for Thy kindly care over us. We pray that 
the Holy Spirit may lead us into the light of 
truth. Give to us a larger vision of Thy glory and 
make us more faithful to Thee and to the needs of 
our fellow-men. Teach us how to pray. 

Give us more faith and love. Give us clearer vision 
to see the deeper meaning of Thy truth. Bless our 
land, and Thy Church in all lands. Bless the young, 
the aged, the sick and the troubled. Fill our hearts 
with sympathy and hope. Let us live to be of service 
to Thee, and to our fellow-men. Thine shall be the 
kingdom, the power and the glory, for we ask in the 
name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen, 



William M. Anderson, D.D., 
Dallas. Texas. 



DECEMBER SIXTH 355 



Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer 
and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be 
made known unto God. And the peace of God, which pass- 
eth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds 
through Christ Jesus. — Phil. 4 : 6-7. 



OUR Father, we bring home and hearts to Thee 
this day for the blessing which Thou hast 
planned for them. May there be in us nothing to 
hinder Thy coming, nothing to cloud the vision of 
Thyself, nothing to deaden the sound of Thy voice. 
We would open the ears and eyes within us to hear 
and see Thee; we would open the whole soul that 
Thou mayst come in. Come in, Father of us all, into 
our home, into our hearts. 

Many things we need this day. One thing, best of 
all, is all that we ask; we ask for Thyself, and hav- 
ing Thee, we have all. Bless the home with Thy pres- 
ence, and the sun shall shine through the darkest 
clouds of the sky; bless our hearts with Thy love, and 
no burden shall be too heavy for us to bear for Thee. 

And then, out of a home where Thou dost dwell, 
may we take Thee in our hearts, in our lives, to bless 
our brethren wherever we go. In Thy name. Amen. 



Bishop Theodore S. Henderson, 
Chattanooga, Tenn. 



356 DECEMBER SEVENTH 



Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatso- 
ever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, what- 
soever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, what- 
soever things are of good report ; if there be any virtue, 
and if there be any praise, think on these things. — Phil. 
4:8. 



OUR Father, we thank Thee for Thy goodness to 
us during the night. Thou hast watched over 
us whilst we slept. Now we pray Thee to guard and 
guide us through this day. May Thy presence be 
with us. As our day, so may our strength be. 

May Thy love be in our hearts and manifest in our 
conduct. Enable us to resist evil, to endure trial, to 
overcome difficulties, and in all things to do Thy will. 
Whatsoever our hands find to do, may we do it with 
our might. 

Keep us from becoming discouraged. May Thy joy 
be our strength. May we not grow weary in well- 
doing. May Thy word be a lamp to our feet and a 
light to our path. Keep our hearts and minds. May 
we think of the things which are pure and lovely and 
of a good report. Supply all our needs this day. 
Make all things work together for our good. We ask 
in Jesus' name. Amen. 



David McKinney, D.D., 
Cincinnati, Ohio. 



DECEMBER EIGHTH 357 



Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. — Luke 6 : 37. 



OUR Heavenly Father, we turn for a little while 
at the threshold of this new day to be with 
Thee. Refresh us with a new vision of Thy face. 
Speak to us Thy will that we may do it. Make all 
the day cheerful by Thy presence and fellowship. 

We thank Thee for life and work in such a beau- 
tiful world. Give us, we beseech Thee, that due sense 
of all Thy mercies that our hearts may be thankful, 
and that we show forth Thy praise not only with our 
lips but in our lives. Perfect us in love, that we may 
conquer all selfishness and learn how to pardon as 
we pray for forgiveness. 

May our home life be sanctified today, and all the 
days, by the presence of the divine Guest. As we go 
out among men to do our work, touching the hands 
and lives of our fellows, make us friends of all — true 
representatives of Thine. Ballast our activities for 
the day with high purposes. Show us how to fill it 
with enriching service, that night may bring a peace- 
ful pillow. Bless the home life of our nation, and 
all the nations. Let every palace, mansion and cot- 
tage in the whole earth become the house of God and 
the gate of heaven. Amen. 



Bishop H. H. Fout, D.D., 
Indianapolis, Indiana. 



358 DECEMBER NINTH 



Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. — I Sam. 7 : 12. 

OLORD, our Lord, Creator, preserver and boun- 
tiful benefactor of men, in Whom we live and 
move and have our being, we adore Thee for Thy 
loving kindness and tender mercies. With shame in 
our hearts we confess before Thee our many sins. 
Our lives do not meet Thy requirements. Our foot- 
steps have wandered from the pathway of rectitude. 
Our Father, look upon us in mercy, and do Thou be 
pleased to have pity upon us in our sins. Look upon 
Thy Son, Who died for us, and do Thou for His sake 
accept us as righteous before Thee. Grant that our 
sins may not only be blotted out of the book of Thy 
remembrance, but that by the power of the Holy 
Ghest we may be enabled to die unto sin, and to live 
unto righteousness. Comfort the disconsolate, cheer 
the saddened, bring friends to the friendless, teach 
the ignorant, give visions to trembling faith, set the 
star of hope in the overhanging clouds, and hurry 
the forces of truth towards the consummation of 
Thy Kingdom. We can trust all to Thee. As our 
Shepherd, lead us today. As our King, defend us 
from the enemies that watch for our souls. As our 
priest, teach us the will of God for our salvation. 
God, our Father, overshadow our pathway with Thy 
merciful providence, and let each one of us bear some 
part in the advancement of the Redeemer's glorious 
Kingdom. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Wl J. McMillan, D.D., 
Baltimore, Md, 



W! 



DECEMBER TENTH 359 

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days 
shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh 
day Is the sabbath of the Lord thy God. — Ex. 20 : 8-9. 

(Fob Sunday Mobning.) 

"E THANK Thee, Lord, for the holy Sabbath, 
so full of blessings for Thy children. We adore 
Thee for this memorial of the precious work of our 
redemption, and type of the rest that remains for 
the people of God. Help us to keep the day holy. 
May we be richly blessed in reading Thy Word, in 
listening to Thy Gospel, and in all the services of the 
holy day. Be with all ministers of the Gospel, and 
especially with those who preach Thy Word today. 
Bless our children, at home and in the Sabbath- 
school. Give to the teachers the power to mold char- 
acter and to guide the children along the path of the 
just. Comfort all that mourn, especially such as have 
not been allowed to attend Thy house today. Give us 
grace not merely to hear the Word, but to help in 
the spread of light and life over the world. Enable 
us to live nearer to Thee. May each Sabbath be a 
spiritual benediction to all Thy people. Look upon 
those who are yet sitting in darkness and in the 
shadow of death. Send abroad Thy light and Thy 
truth into the benighted portions of our globe. Turn 
the nations from idols to serve the living God. Let 
the people praise Thee, let all the people praise Thee ; 
and blessed be Thy glorious name forever and ever. 
Amen. 

A. M. Mayo, 

Lake Charles, Louisiana. 



DECEMBER ELEVENTH 



Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer. 
— Isa. (58 : 9. 

OTHOU Who art so distant that no reach of our 
thought can compass Thee, and so near that we 
are apt to overlook Thee, hear our prayer. Our Sa- 
viour taught us to address Thee in the endearing 
names of our homes. We can call ourselves Thy 
sons, and we can call Thee our Father and our Friend. 
And we are not as unimportant as sometimes we 
seem, for if we are less than the child, to care for us 
Thou art more than the mother. As in spring days 
men walk in their gardens to see how their flowers 
and fruits are growing, so may we go through our 
souls to observe what the divine nature is bringing 
forth there. May we see much love, aspiration, hope, 
courage and other riches of Thy grace. Here we 
promise more faithfully to cultivate the good seeds 
and eradicate the weeds. And our promise is not a 
passing wish, but we pray that it may be a conse- 
crated purpose. Bless our country with strength for 
righteousness. Bless our homes with children that 
shall develop in integrity and usefulness. Forgive us 
for misemphasizing the things of time more than 
those of eternity. In all trouble, help us to say, "If 
God be for us, who can be against us?" Aid us to 
hold within our thought and love and hope dear ones 
who have gone to their heavenly home. May we pre- 
pare for reunited fellowship with them, and unveiled 
communion with God, by nobler living. In our Mas- 
ter's name. Amen. 

Rev. John W. Langdale, 
Cincinnati, Ohio. 



DECEMBER TWELFTH 361 



Pray now unto the Lord our God. — Jer. 37 : 3. 

WE THANK Thee, our Heavenly Father, for Thy 
care over us through the past night. We thank 
Thee for the Bible. Help us to understand it, to be- 
lieve it, to obey it and to love it. We thank Thee, 
Blessed Saviour, that Thou didst come from heaven 
to earth that we might go from earth to heaven ; that 
Thou didst die that we might live. We thank Thee 
that Thou didst rise from the dead, ascend up on 
high, and dost ever live to intercede for us. We 
thank Thee that Thou didst say, "Come unto me all 
ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you 
rest." We come to Thee. Have mercy on us. We 
have done wrong. Forgive us. We want to do right ; 
help us. We are sinners; be Thou our Saviour. Fill 
us with Thy Spirit; consecrate us to Thy service. 
Comfort the troubled ; guide the perplexed ; strengthen 
the weak; succor the tempted. Bless our country. 
Bless Thy Church everywhere, and bless all Christian 
workers. Fill the whole earth with Thy glory. We 
ask all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and for 
His sake we pray, 

"God bless our going out, 
Nor less our coming in, 
And make them sure. 
God bless our daily bread, 
And bless whate'er we do, whate'er endure. 
May death unto His peace awake us, 
And heirs unto His salvation make us." 

Amen. 

Richard Boyd Webster, D.D., 
Wilkes-Barre, Penna. 



362 DECEMBER THIRTEENTH 



Watch and pray. — MaTk 13 : 33. 

OGOD, Lord of Heaven and earth, the builder up 
of the universe, Thou art the rock of our salva- 
tion, unchanging in holiness and loving kindness. We 
lift up our hearts unto Thee; we know that Thou 
carest for us and hearest us. Lord Jesus, Thou art 
the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Son of David. 
Thou didst come and share our life, teaching, healing, 
tasting death on the cross as a sin-bearer, triumph- 
ing over evil, and pledging Thyself to come again in 
glory. Bless all dear to us; lead them in the way 
everlasting; be with them and us in all times of suf- 
fering, sorrow and anxiety (especially * * *). We 
thank Thee for the Gospel message, and for the Bible, 
which is the record of what Thou hast said and done 
in the past, and of what Thou hast promised for the 
future. May it be to us increasingly the guide to 
life, the key to history, and the revelation of hope. 
Help us to do our share in spreading the knowledge 
of it throughout the world. Look with pity on Thy 
scattered people Israel. Open their eyes to see the 
truths contained in their own Scriptures, and to rec- 
ognize the Lord Jesus as their Prince and their Sa- 
viour. We offer these our prayers and praises in the 
name of our King, Jesus Christ. Amen. 



Rev. Canox R. B. Gibdlestone, M.A., 
Wimbledon, England. 



DECEMBER FOURTEENTH 363 



He shall * * * save them because they trust in Him. 
— Ps. 37 : 40. 

OUR Father, as Thy children we, in this new day, 
hope for Thy presence and listen for Thy voice. 
That we may be sensitive to Thy touch and alert to 
Thy word, make us eager to know Thy will and reso- 
lute to do it. To know Thee in close intimacy is our 
need and our prayer. 

In Thee is food for all our hungers; light for all 
our gloom; tasks for all our energies; love — warm, 
throbbing, sacrificing, to purge away our selfishness. 
This is our faith — make it our living experience. 

Look in pity upon all the sons of men. Bring 
strife to an end. Establish righteousness in the affairs 
of nations. Help all rulers to decree justice. Let 
reason prevail, and love bind together the hearts of 
men. 

Be our sufficiency all day. Be our defense if we 
are threatened by evil forces; keep us rigid when we 
are tempted; give us fresh inspiration when our pur- 
poses flag; keep us unselfishly, deliberately, eagerly 
kind all day, and when night falls may we have the 
consciousness of Thy favor, and the peace which pass- 
eth understanding, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 



Wallace MacMullen, D.D., 
Madison, New Jersey. 



364 DECEMBER FIFTEENTH 



Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus : 
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to 
be equal with Gad: But made Himself of no reputation, 
and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made 
in the likeness of men : And being found in fashion as a 
man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto 
death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also 
hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is 
above every name. — Phil. 2 : 5-9. 



OUR prayer to Thee, Father, is in the name of 
Thy Son, Who forgave our sins on the cross. 
Help us by Thy Holy Spirit to separate ourselves 
from sin and enter into the inheritance of Thy re- 
deemed children. May we this day give the world in 
spiritual blessing far more than we receive in material 
gain. May we realize that our safety of soul and 
body is in Thee, and upon Thee we can depend for all 
our need. May we have a genuine love for all human- 
ity, and seek the salvation of all people. May we be 
of real help to someone, and may all see in us more 
of Christ than they can see of self. 

Unto God our Father, Christ our Saviour, and the 
Holy Ghost our Comforter, be all glory. Amen. 



Rev. James B. Ely, 
Philadelphia, Penna, 



DECEMBER SIXTEENTH 365 



If a man love Me, he will keep My words.— John 14 : 23. 

ALMIGHTY GOD, our Heavenly Father, we thank 
Thee for Thy goodness, Thy loving kindness to 
us and to all men; for the health that gives strength, 
and for the sickness that brings patience; and most 
of all for the forgiveness of sins for Christ's sake, for 
the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. 

We beseech Thee, give Thy guidance in what we 
ouo-ht to do and in the ways wherein we ought to go, 
and vouchsafe Thy grace to enable us to walk in them 
aright. Save us* from being so busy as to forget 
Thee, or so contented as to feel no need of Thee. 

Fill our hearts with grateful love of Thy dear Son, 
our Saviour and our King; and open our eyes to the 
light, and our souls to the grace of Thy Holy Spirit, 
that He may come in and take possession and work 
in us the holiness without which no man shall see 
the Lord. 

God, be merciful to us sinners as we tread the 
dusty way of active life, and when the evening comes 
bide with us near, and give light for the way home, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



Bishop Daniel S. Tuttle, D.D., 
St. Louis, Missouri. 



366 DECEMBER SEVENTEENTH 

Thou that heare6t prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come. 
Ps. 65 : 2. 

MOST Gracious Father, from Whom all good gifts 
come, grant us, we entreat Thee, the gift we 
need above all others, Thy Holy Spirit to help our 
infirmities, that our worship may be purged from all 
unreality. We long to pray to Thee sincerely, but we 
cannot unless Thou dost cleanse our hearts from the 
dross of vain desire. Free us from selfishness in our 
prayers; deliver us from asking for those things that 
will minister chiefly to our earthly pleasure. Thou 
must inspire the petitions which Thou alone canst 
answer. We are conscious of our sinfulness, but can- 
not be truly sorry for our misdoings until Thou dost 
move us to honest contrition and unfeigned repent- 
ance. We would be grateful to Thee for the multi- 
tude of Thy tender mercies, but it is not until Thou 
dost grant us a due sense of Thy goodness, and 
awaken within us sincere gratitude, that our cold 
hearts are ready to praise Thee. 

Our love languishes and dies except Thy Spirit 
shall quicken it into a living flame. Our good deeds 
cry aloud to Thee for pardon, if Thou dost not in- 
spire them and purify them by Thine own indwelling. 

We would live the prayer life; we would learn 
what it is to pray without ceasing. To this end do 
Thou come and dwell within us, O Thou Spirit of 
Christ! We want day by day to glorify Thee, our 
Father, and to serve our fellows, even as did Jesus, 
Thy well-beloved Son. In His name. Amen. 

S. P. Rose, D.D., 
Montreal, Canada. 



DECEMBER EIGHTEENTH 367 



With my spirit within me will I seek Thee early. 
— Isa. 26: 9. 

OUR Father in Heaven, we call unto Thee because 
we have called before and Thou didst hear us. 
Come unto us, Lord, when all is dark, and when trou- 
ble weighs us down. Lift us up again, that we may- 
praise Thee and smile in our heart. For the labors 
of this day, give us free grace; for the hard road, the 
iron shoes of good resolution; for the hour that casts 
us down, calm us and lift us up again. Make us 
gentle, Lord, with our loved ones. May we never 
give way to harsh words or unjust thoughts. Lord 
Jesus, listen to our prayer as we confess our sins be- 
fore Thy Holy Cross. May we meet the Man of Sor- 
rows now while we bend before Thee, so shall our 
sins fade away, and our hearts rejoice with a new 
joy. May we be resigned to Thy will, no matter 
what we must yield. Gather this little family about 
Thyself as doth the bird when the storm falls. Cover 
us with Thy love, and protect us in the hollow of Thy 
hand. Lord, give us the power to pray aright, for 
we pray in Thy might. At last, Gentle Shepherd of 
our home folks, gather us all to Thyself in the dear 
Homeland, when the morning breaks and the shadows 
flee away. And this we ask in Jesus' name. Amen. 



C. H. Woolston, D.D., 
Philadelphia, Penna. 



368 DECEMBER NINETEENTH 



Let us hold fast the profession of our faith. — Heb. 10 : 23, 

ALMIGHTY GOD, our Heavenly Father, the Giver 
of all good things unto Thy children, in Whom 
we live and move and have our being, Who hast 
brought us in safety to see the light of another day, 
we, Thy humble servants, offer Thee our heartfelt 
praises for Thy preservation of us throughout all our 
lives, and especially through the hours of darkness, 
for the rest and peace which we have enjoyed, and 
for the opportunities of another day. We thank Thee 
for all Thy mercies to us, for home and friends, for 
health and strength, and for all the blessings with 
which Thou hast crowned our lives. 

Grant especially that this day we may have grace 
in all our thoughts and words and deeds to glorify 
Thy Holy Name, and to brighten the lives of those 
about us, and to help them to better things. Help us 
to do with our might whatsoever our hands may find 
to do for Thee and for our fellow-men. Keep far 
from us all sin and evil, and, if it please Thee, de- 
liver us from all sickness, sorrow and anxiety. What- 
soever Thou mayest have in store for us, grant at 
least that in all things we may be drawn nearer to 
Thee. 

We ask it all through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our 
Lord. Amen. 



James Goodwin, D.D., 
Hertford, Connecticut. 



DECEMBER TWENTIETH -369 



He shall save the children of the needy. — Ps. 72 : 4. 

OLORD, our Heavenly Father, we praise and mag- 
nify Thy Holy Name for all Thy loving kindness 
and Thy tender mercy which Thou hast bestowed upon 
us. Thou hast opened Thy hand and supplied all our 
wants. We thank Thee, O Lord, that when we were 
without strength, in due time Christ died for the un- 
godly, that He might ransom our souls from sin and 
death, and give unto us eternal life. Grant, Lord, 
that each one of us, now in Thy presence, may re- 
ceive Christ Jesus as our eternal Saviour. We praise 
Thee, God, for the gift of Thy Holy Spirit, Who 
tabernacles in our hearts, and Who takes of the things 
of Jesus and reveals them unto us day by day, mo- 
ment by moment. 

Grant Thy blessing, we beseech Thee, upon every 
member of this household, and upon all our loved 
ones, wherever they may be at this hour. We thank 
Thee that "in Jesus' keeping we are safe, and they." 
Remember in mercy, O Lord, any who are in distress 
at this time, in mind, body or estate. Comfort all 
who mourn. Let all the earth remember and return 
to Thee, O God; let all the kindreds of the nations 
worship Thee, in spirit and in truth. Grant unto us 
the forgiveness of all our sins, in the name of our 
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen, 



Rev. Chables Geobge Smith, B.D., 
Belleville, Ont., Canada. 



370 DECEMBER TWENTY-FIRST 



I will magnify Him with thanksgiving. — Ps. 69 : 30. 



GOD of all mercies, Saviour and Sanctifier of men, 
we worship Thee, the Triune God, and call upon 
our souls and all that is within us, to praise and 
magnify Thy Holy Name. 

We confess our sins, but rejoice that they are con- 
stantly being blotted out by the blood of our blessed 
Lord, and because He is righteous, we who have our 
lives hid in Him are also righteous. 

We come to Thy mercy seat with joy and thanks- 
giving, as we count our innumerable blessings, know- 
ing that no good thing shall be withheld from those 
who love Thee and put their trust in Thee. As Thou 
hast delivered us from all perils, sorrows and trials 
in the past, so we are assured that Thou wilt keep 
that which we commit to Thee for the future. En- 
rich our hearts with Thy Word, that we may lead 
clean, holy lives, and have power to be winners of 
souls for our Master. 

We pray for Thy rich grace to be upon our beloved 
in our home and elsewhere, and for the world which 
lies in sin, that Thy Kingdom may come, and Thy will 
be done, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 



J. H. Jeffebis, 

Philadelphia, Penna. 



DECEMBER TWENTY-SECOND 371 



I have loved thee with an everlasting love. — Jer. 31 : 3. 

OUR Father in Heaven, we would praise and mag- 
nify Thy Holy Name. Thy love watches over 
us, protecting us from every kind of danger, and pro- 
vides for our every need. Thou dost never fail us. 
We trust in Thee. 

We have sinned against Thee in thought and word 
and deed, but we come with contrite hearts, confess- 
ing our unworthiness, and pleading for Thy forgive- 
ness, through the merits of the shed blood of our 
Saviour Jesus Christ. 

We thank Thee for all Thy good gifts unto us, and 
we pray Thee to accept us and to use us as Thou 
canst. Bless each of us as we need Thy blessing. 
And, with us, bless all the ill, the sorrowing, the 
discouraged, the sinning, and all Thy needy ones. We 
would pray also for all those engaged in lowly or 
great tasks for the extension of Thy Kingdom in the 
hearts of men everywhere. 

And now do Thou be with us in our daily task of 
hand or mind. May we be workmen in things mate- 
rial and spiritual of whom Thou needest not to be 
ashamed. Gather us home after while, without one. 
missing. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. 



Rev. Stewakt Winfield Hebman, 
Harrisburg, Penna. 



372 DECEMBER TWENTY-THIRD 



They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, 
which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the 
mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is 
round about His people from henceforth even for ever. 
For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of 
the righteous ; lest the righteous put forth their hands 
unto iniquity. Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, 
and to them that are upright in their hearts. — Ps. 125 : 1-4. 



OUR gracious Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for 
the light this morning. Endue our hearts with 
gratitude and love for the blessings of the past week, 
and direct our conversation and daily walk through 
the coming week. May all we do be acceptable in Thy 
sight. Grant that we may render Thee service that 
will not only give us joy and comfort, but that our 
example and influence will lead others to love and 
serve Thee. God grant that we may realize and ap- 
preciate every day of our lives that we owe all to 
Thee and that all the good things of life come from 
Thy mercy and gracious kindness. All this we ask 
for Christ's sake. Amen. 



George T. Jester, 
Corsicana, Texas. 






DECEMBER TWENTY-FOURTH 373 



His ears are open unto their prayers. — I Peter 3 : 12. 

AROUND this, our family altar, we come, O God, 
to seek Thy face. Keep us today, sheltered in 
the light of Thy countenance. Help us to do only 
the things that please Thee. At every step may we 
be conscious that Thou art at our side. 

We seek Thy very best, both for ourselves and for 
those, our loved ones, absent from our altar of prayer. 
As parents, may we guide our household aright; as 
children, may we walk worthy of the Lord unto all 
pleasing. 

Mid the darkening shadows, keep us walking in the 
light; may our hearts be garrisoned with peace. Fill 
us, O God, with the knowledge of Thy will in all wis- 
dom and spiritual understanding; make us fruitful 
in every good word and work. As we bow around, 
this family altar, Lord, help us to comprehend the 
atoning efficacy of Thy death, the keeping power of 
Thy life, and the blessed hope of Thy coming. 

We ask Thy presence with us during the day; we 
dare not walk alone. The tempter is too subtle, the 
pleasures of the world too luring, and the lust of 
riches too strong. Lead us, O Lord, in the train of 
Thy triumph; make us more than conquerors in 
Thee. Amen. 



Rev. R. E. Xeighboub, 
Athens, Georgia. 



374 DECEMBER TWENTY-FIFTH 



And the angel said unto them, Fear not : for, behold, I 
bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all 
people. For unto you is born this day in the city of 
David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. — Luke 2 : 10-11. 



WE ARE filled with joy and gratitude this morn- 
ing for the gift of the Saviour, Jesus. We are 
especially thankful that He is not a Saviour afar off, 
but linked to our nature in the manner of His birth, 
in childhood, in humility, in love and sympathy. He 
who saw the light of day in the midst of the beasts 
of burden when first He threw the mantle of humanity 
over Himself, has lifted from us the burdens of sin 
and anxiety. In Him we are glad. 

With all the angels who celebrated His nativity we 
add our voice of joy. With the humble who inquired 
what these things meant, we still search for the 
truth of the incarnation. Give joy this day to all 
people, we earnestly pray. Bless all children, the 
babes of the land. Be with the poor, and give to us 
all, and to all others, the spirit ci good-will and of 
charity. Bring peace to earth, a reception of the 
good tidings also. May the gifts of love manifest 
the spirit of Jesus, we ask in His name. Amen. 



Rev. Robert W. Thompson, 
Pittsburg, Kansas. 



DECEMBER TWENTY-SIXTH 375 



->We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
— Rom. 5 : 1. 

OUR Father, Thou Who sittest upon a throne 
high and lifted up, Whose glory fills the Heav- 
ens, make us conscious this morning that Thou art 
not far from any one of us, Thy children. Thou hast 
revealed Thy nearness to us in Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Help us to see that our selfishness is the only thing 
that can separate us from Thee. Take out of our 
hearts every selfish impulse, and fill them with a 
holy love for Thee. Then we know that there shall 
be fulfilled for us the promise of Jesus, that Thou, 
our Father, and He, our Brother, shall come in and 
dwell with us this day. Speak to us by Thy still, 
small voice. 

Christmas Day has come and gone. We have given 
and we have received the tokens of friendship and 
love. We cannot repeat these gifts every day, but we 
earnestly beseech Thee that the Christmas spirit may 
abide in our hearts and in the hearts of mankind 
everywhere. Take out of our hearts every trace of 
jealousy and hatred toward any of Thy children, and 
give us the attitude toward all mankind which was 
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Hasten the day when our 
ears shall hear the morning stars singing together 
and all the sons of men joining with the angelic choir 
in the anthem of the first Christmas morning, "Peace 
on earth among men of good will." Through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Rev. Frank W. Padelford, 
Boston, Massachusetts. 



376 DECEMBER TWENTY-SEVENTH 



And He said to them all, If any man will come after 
Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, 
and follow Me. 

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it : but who- 
soever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it. 

For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole 
world, and lose himself, or be cast away? — Luke, 9 : 23-25. 



OLORD, Thou Whose eye seest everything, even 
into the secrets of our hearts, and with Whom 
is all wisdom and power, be not silent to our petition. 
In our suffering let us observe Thy presence, and, out 
of pain, teach us submission. 

We cannot always understand what Thou art doing 
with us, but O Thou Watcher of men, make our souls 
to know that Thou arc always just and good, ever 
long-suffering in Thy mercy. Give us Thy strength 
to bear the burden. 

Teach us that if we would be most serviceable to 
Thee, we must be marred and hurt and made to 
bleed. Then we shall come forth as gold tried in the 
furnace, and Thy righteousness shall be our robe, and 
Thy glory our diadem. Amen. 



Peter Ainslie, D.D., 
Baltimore, Maryland. 



DECEMBER TWENTY-EIGHTH 377 



Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the 
Father, in the name of our Lord. Jesus Christ. — Eph. 
5:20. 

But thanks he to God, which giveth us the victory through 
our Lord, Jesus Christ. — I Cor. 15 : 57. 



OUR Heavenly Father, for all Thou hast given and 
all Thou hast forgiven, we thank Thee. For 
every gift of nature, and Thy favoring providences, 
and Thy great salvation through Christ, we thank 
Thee. 

For blessings within us and around us; for every- 
thing by which Thou hast brought good and drawn 
us to Thyself through all our lives and the lives of 
our kin; for our power of understanding, of loving, 
of homemaking, of sharing friendships; for the good 
hope concerning loved ones who have gone from the 
ways of earth, and for our own expectation of shar- 
ing heaven's joy with them through Christ's saving 
merit — we thank Thee. 

Help us, O Father, to live and work with the cheer 
of a grateful spirit, overcoming all trouble by the 
patience of hope and the wisdom of love. So may we 
share the fellowship of all who follow Christ, both 
near about us and in all the world. Amen. 



Rev. William Allen Knight, LL.D., 
Boston, Massachusetts. 



378 DECEMBER TWENTY-NINTH 



For the love of Christ constraineth us. — II Cor. 5 : 14. 



OUR Father in Heaven, we are Thy children, re- 
deemed by Christ our Saviour and Elder Brother, 
and we come to Thee in His name. Forgive our sins. 
Deliver us from all the guilt and power of sin, and 
from its consequences. Take the love of it out of our 
hearts. Make our love of Thee to glow. Let it burn 
out all the dross of evil, and impel us constantly to 
gracious acts of kindly ministry done to others in the 
Master's name and for His sake. Give us a clear 
vision of our ever-present Saviour as an abiding 
Friend. Grant that we may be transformed by thus 
beholding Him, growing daily more and more like 
Him in the desires of our hearts, the words of our 
lips, and the things we do and refrain from doing. 

Bless with us all others, supplying their every need, 
and giving them grace and guidance. Make the Gos- 
pel light shine out brightly in all lands, bringing 
peace and spiritual prosperity, and drawing all men 
to Christ, and together in the bonds of Christian 
unity and brotherliness. We ask all this, as we pray 
for grateful hearts, in the name of Him Who died on 
Calvary. Amen. 



H. BOMBEBGER, D.D., 

Cleveland, Ohio. 



DECEMBER THIRTIETH 379 



The Lord is good to all : and His tender mercies are over 
all His works. — Ps. 145 : 9. 



OGOD, our Father, we are about to enter upon a 
new day. To meet well all duties and responsi- 
bilities that come to us; to resist firmly every distrac- 
tion and temptation that seeks to draw us from our 
path; to be utterly prepared for any danger or any 
crisis that may this day befall us; to be found, when 
the evening is come, pure and holy — this is our de- 
sire. 

And we would be friendly with all men; strength 
to the weak, hope to the despondent, joy to the sor- 
rowing, power to the tempted. 

We wait, therefore, our Father, for the coming of 
Thy Spirit upon us ere we venture into all that this 
day holds for us. In the quiet of this early morning 
hour, bowed before Thee, our souls wait. Touch us 
with that hand which has been laid in blessing upon 
others before us; speak to us with that still, small 
voice of power; fill us with Thine own righteousness. 

Give us of Thyself, that we may this day so live 
for ourselves and before men that through us Thy 
Kingdom may in part come, and Thy will more fully 
be done among men. For Jesus' sake. Amen. 



Rev. Seeley K. Tompkins, 
Cvricinnati, Ohio. 



380 DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST 

We love Him, because He first loved us. — I John 4 : 19. 

OGOD of Light, Who, in Thy omnipotent power 
drove away the darkness of primeval chaos, be 
pleased to let the Sun of Righteousness so illumine 
our dark hearts that we shall go forth to the duties 
of this day in the joy of faith, the gladness of obedi- 
ence, and with a clear vision of truth and duty. 

O God of Liberty, Who hast bestowed upon us, the 
children of bondage, that sublime yet awful heritage, 
the freedom of the will, help us to realize the respon- 
sibility which it involves. Perfect us in the practice 
of that self-denial, that choosing of the better portion, 
until we learn to know from experience as well as 
revelation that to be Thy bond servant is to enjoy 
the only perfect freedom which the soul of man can 
ever know. 

God of Love, Wiho hast loved us, wretched sin- 
ners, with an everlasting love, help us, Thy unprofit- 
able servants, to reflect Thy love more and more, and 
show our constantly increasing affection by more 
loyal devotion, more faithful service and more com- 
plete obedience. 

O God of Life, Who hast promised here and here- 
after life yet more abundantly to all who truly seek 
it, help us on this last assured day of all time to 
strive for that deeper, fuller experience which comes 
only through Thee. Help us to live this day a nobler, 
purer, more devoted, more obedient life than ever be- 
fore, to the glory of Thy name, Thou God of Light, 
Liberty, Love and Life. Amen. 

John E. Milholland, 
Philadelphia, Penna. 



381 

A Sentence Pbayeb. 
T ORD, speak to me, and then speak through me. 

Pbes. Hensy Chubchill King, D.D., LL.D., 

Oberlin, Ohio. 

A Prayer for Easter Morning. 

WE THANK Thee, God, for the day in which 
life and immortality were brought to light 
through the resurrection of our blessed Lord from 
the dead. We remember that crimson footprints 
marked His way into the dark tomb, and that with 
wounded hand the door of death was unlocked. We 
thank Thee, God the Father, and Jesus the Saviour, 
for the love of the Cross and the power of the divine 
Spirit, whereby the grave was robbed of its victim 
and a living Saviour appears to cheer and bless. May 
we live our lives upon the earth as those who are 
united to Him, raised up w-' A h Him, seated with Him 
in the heavens, and as those who look for the blessed 
hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and 
Saviour Jesus Christ. May the light of His glory 
shine far this day, revealing and healing the sins of 
many hearts. We ask in His name. Amen. 

Rev. Robert W. Thompson, 
Pittsburg, Kansas. 



382 

A Prayer for Mother's Day. 

LORD, I thank Thee for the tender care and con- 
stant prayer of a godly mother. May the "un- 
feigned faith" that dwelt in her dwell in her son also. 
Help me to keep ever before me the high ideal of 
service and character which she impressed upon the 
mind of my youth. Help me to make bright the sun- 
set of her days and by my life and faith to be a living 
answer to her prayers; and when I mourn "as one 
that mourneth for his mother," may her memory still 
be with me, a star to guide me on my journey through 
the broken and uneven ways of life till traveling days 
are o'er. In the name of Him whose last earthly 
thought was for His mother, when He said to that 
disciple whom He loved, "Son, behold thy mother." 
Amen. 

Clarence Edward McCartney, D.D., 
Philadelphia, Penna. 

An Evening Prayer. 

WE THANK Thee, Lord, for the work of the 
day, and for the rest of the night. We will lay 
us down both in peace and sleep, for Thou, Lord, only, 
makest us to dwell in safety. Keep watch around us 
throughout this night, to protect us against the as- 
saults of the evil one, to suggest to us holy thoughts, 
to defend us from all dangers, to lead us in the per- 
fect way of peace, and to prepare us for the happy 
service of a new day. For Jesus' sake. A men. 

Rev. John Edgar Park, 

West Neicton, Massachusetts. 



383 

A New Year's Prayer. 

STRONG Son of God, on the threshold of the New 
Year we pray: 

May nothing false pass our lips. May our lives be 
real, our hearts pure, our spirit right. May all that 
is unseemly be eliminated. May our hearthstones be 
centers of wholesome influence. May God be a partner 
in our business. May our social life be elevating; 
our Church life as becometh saints. Grant this our 
prayer, O God the Sanctifier, in Jesus' name. Amen. 
G. Bickley Burns, D.D., 

Philadelphia, Penna. 

A Prayer for Trust. 
The joy of the Lord is your strength. — Neh. 8 : 10. 

THOU, God, Who hast created us for Thy joy, 
teach us to know ourselves held in the hollow of 
Thy hand ; help us to know that as Thou hast breathed 
into us the breath of life, so Thou wilt sustain us 
according to Thy pleasure. Help us to accept what 
comes to us as that which Thou hast chosen for our 
development, and the expression of an eternal will 
and wisdom. So with courage and with trust, help 
us to grow, to love and to accept Thy creation and all 
our fellow-creatures until we too become loving co- 
workers in the great field of preparation. Cleanse 
us, God, of fear, of self-will, of childish desires. 
Open our minds and hearts, so that in such measure 
as we are able, we may comprehend and trust the 
working of Thy goodness in us. Amen. 
Louise Collier Willcos, 
Norfolk, Virginia. 



384 



(Fob Thanksgiving Day.) 

HEAVENLY FATHER, we bring Thee a psalm of 
thanksgiving. Thou hast put a new song in 
our hearts, and there is a new hymn of praise upon 
our lips. Thou hast done wonderful things for us 
and in us, for which we are glad. Old things have 
passed away and behold all things have become new. 
We call upon our souls and all that is within us to 
praise Thy Holy Name. Thou hast set us in a 
high place. Our hearts are enlarged. Christ has 
come to be the chiefest among ten thousand and the 
One altogether lovely. His will is our delight, His 
church is like the gate of Heaven to our souls; His 
words are sweeter than honey to our lips, and His 
service is joy beyond compare. Forgive us for 
the sins of omission, for slowness of belief, for 
poverty of prayer, for ignorance of Thy Word, 
for besetting sins, for neglect of duty. 

Help us to redeem the time, to be instant in sea- 
son and out of season, if only we may hasten the 
harvest of souls and more speedily usher in the 
Kingdom of our Lord. Help us to dare great things 
for Thee and to expect great things from Thee, as 
Thou hast promised. Make us worthy of Thy confi- 
dence, that we may be worthy of Thy commendation 
when the day is done. Amen. 



Fredebick T. Keeney, D.D., 
Syracuse, N. Y. 





Date Due 














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